Why is Ellen DeGeneres receiving such intense scrutiny amid accusations of a toxic workplace?

The Mary Sue

"Part of it is the unique position Ellen is in as a daytime talk show host. Unlike, say, the abusive showrunner of Magnum P.I. who was also a well-known horrible Hollywood boss, Ellen is a public, celebrity figure with a particular sunny brand whose work fills a particular need," says Jessica Mason. "Talk show hosts often find success because they can embody the everyday person, but with a bit more attention and production value. They serve as a voice for the mildly curious, and their brands are all about being an accessible and fun representation of the Average American who wants something vaguely interesting to watch before the five o’clock news. But the Average American right now is facing a reckoning, from dealing with a pandemic to racism to a crumbling economy, the evils of capitalism, rampant misogyny, and so much more. And so it’s fitting that the ultimate talk show host continues to face her own reckoning in the media. As Ellen DeGeneres’s carefully maintained image falls apart so does our image of America and ourselves. And Ellen certainly seems to deserve all the criticism she’s getting. Ellen’s image has been faltering for a while, in some circles, but the open Hollywood secret of her unpleasantness and her friendship with George W. Bush weren’t enough to really crack the facade. It took a pandemic and Ellen not talking to or paying her crew to begin the avalanche of bad press and revelations that have left Ellen with rumors swirling that she wants to quit her show and the tag #ReplaceEllen, which trended on Twitter, brainstorming ideas for her replacement." ALSO: Ellen producers have begun returning to work this week, addressing staff as the misconduct investigation continues.