The production company behind The Ellen DeGeneres Show has insisted Ellen will return in the fall despite "toxic" workplace claims.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show is currently under an internal investigation after employees came forward about experiencing "racism, fear and intimidation” while working there.
Production company Telepictures confirmed to TODAY that Ellen will return to the stage to host the 18th season of her talk show.
Show spokesperson Melissa Little Padgitt confirmed that staff have returned remotely yesterday following their summer hiatus – although crew have yet to return until they plan COVID-19 safety guidelines.
And while there was murmurs that James Corden would potentially take over the show, a show insider told the broadcaster that "no one is stepping in or taking over."
The source added that the TV star's spinoff show, Ellen’s Game of Games, will begin shooting in the studio from August 24.
Meanwhile Ellen's personal spokesperson confirmed The Ellen DeGeneres Show will return to screens on September 9.
Ellen – who faces losing partnerships – has found herself in hot water after BuzzFeed News spoke to 36 staffers about their alleged experiences on the set of the hit daytime show.
One former employee alleged Kevin Leman, the show’s head writer and executive producer, solicited him for oral sex at a company party in 2013.
Others claimed they witnessed him grope and kiss employees.
Nearly a dozen claimed to the publication that he often made sexually explicit comments about colleagues.
He has also been accused of preying on young, lower-level employees who would fear lodging a complaint to HR.
Kevin said he denied "any kind of sexual impropriety" in a statement.
In a separate interview in July, Ellen employees claimed they suffered from "racism, fear and intimidation” on set.
BuzzFeed News also reported staff claimed to have been fired because they took medical leave or bereavement days to attend family funerals.
Others alleged they were told by their managers to not speak directly to Ellen if they saw her at the office.
“Is she always nice? No,” said a former staffer. “It irritates me that people think she’s all sweetness and light and she gets away with it.”
A black woman, who once worked for Ellen, told the website that she experienced “racist comments, actions and microaggressions” during her year and a half as an employee.
She also alleged that a main writer for the show told her at a company party: “I’m sorry, I only know the names of the white people who work here.”
An internal investigation was launched last week week by the show's parent company WarnerMedia after the employees came forward.
Following the backlash, Ellen issued an apology letter to her staff.
However, staffers told The Sun exclusively that Ellen's "apology and denial that she knew anything was going on" regarding the alleged behind-the-scenes misconduct is “complete bull.”
Executive producers Ed Glavin, Mary Connelly, and Andy Lassner released a joint statement to the outlet, claiming they take the stories "very seriously" and admitted they need to "do better.”
Though Andy claimed the show is not “going off the air” amid cancelation rumors, The Sun exclusively reported James Corden may be in line to replace Ellen.
NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy, who is part of the executive team overseeing the probes on the claims against The Ellen DeGeneres Show, is deciding on the future of the Emmy-winning series.
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