Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is set to return for season 18, following months of allegations regarding her programme’s toxic workplace culture. Despite rumours that the show was facing cancellation or recasting DeGeneres, she will continue to host and released a cryptic statement – promising “we’re gonna talk about it.”
The return of the show was announced yesterday with a finalised date for its season 18 premiere. Season 18 is set to air on September 21 in the US without a studio audience.
DeGeneres said in a statement via The Hollywood Reporter, “I can’t wait to get back to work and back to our studio.”
Although the allegations regarding the show were not explicitly addressed, DeGeneres continued, “And, yes, we’re gonna talk about it.”
The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been at the centre of a number of claims regarding the show’s reported toxic culture, which prompted the show’s parent company Warner Media to launch an internal review.
DeGeneres also apologised in a message to staff, saying she was “disappointed” and was “committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”
Following the note and interviews with current and former members of staff, a Warner Bros spokesperson said in a statement that three members of the show’s senior management – executive producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman – had “parted ways” with the programme