Kelly Clarkson responds to allegations of toxicity behind the scenes on her talk show

The New York Daily News - 5/13/2023

Kelly Clarkson emphasized her dedication to fostering a positive work environment following allegations that working on her eponymous talk show can be toxic and traumatic.

“In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I’ve always led with my heart and what I believed to be right,” she wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday. “I love my team at ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ and to find out that anyone is feeling unheard and disrespected on this show is unacceptable.”

The former “American Idol” champ, whose talk show is set to relocate to New York for its upcoming season, added that she’ll use the move to the East Coast as an opportunity to ensure “our team that is moving but also our new team in NY is comprised of the best and kindest in the business.”

Clarkson also vowed that both she and her senior staff members will undergo training to ensure a safe work environment.

“There is always room to grow and ensure we are all being/becoming the best version of ourselves in any business, especially when it comes to leadership to ensure that any notion of toxicity is eradicated,” she concluded.

Clarkson’s comments come after one current and 10 former employees alleged they were overworked and underpaid during their time on the show. None of the complaints were aimed at the talk show host, who they described as “fantastic.”

“I’d be floored if she knew the staff wasn’t getting paid for two weeks of Christmas hiatus,” one employee told Rolling Stone. “The Kelly that I interacted with and that everyone knows would probably be pretty aghast to learn that.”

Another worker recalled “going up on the roof of the stage to cry, being like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what am I doing? Why am I putting myself through this?’”

Others specifically blamed the show’s senior and executive producers, specifically showrunner Alex Duda, an alum of “Steve Harvey” and “The Tyra Banks Show.”