In new exclusive details, The NY Post is reporting that Ellen DeGeneres plans to give her staff ‘millions’ in bonuses as the show comes to an end.
The final episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is set to air May 26, with a source telling The Post on Wednesday that “Ellen and [production company] Warner Bros. worked together to make sure every person was taken care of.”
The exact seven-figure sum that will be distributed to staffers was not disclosed, but the source declared: “It was not even a question for Ellen to cover bonuses … That was very important to her.”
The insider added that the host “has been incredibly generous” to employees since the show began back in 2003.
It comes after allegations of a “toxic” culture on the set of the wildly popular program. Those claims surfaced back in 2020, prompting DeGeneres to offer an on-air apology for not being aware of the alleged problems plaguing her production.
According to Deadline, however, a “significant portion” of her staff are “old-timers.” Around 30 percent of show employees have worked there for over a decade.
Meanwhile, it appears DeGeneres has been lavishing her employees across the course of her final season. Back in September, a source told The Post, she “gave gifts to everyone including trips, watches, cars.”
Deadline also reports that staffers have received letters confirming that Warner Bros. plans to extend health-care coverage for six months after the program ends.
The employees have also been provided with access to résumé-building and networking workshops, according to the publication.
Meanwhile, DeGeneres is recruiting a long list of A-list pals to appear on the program for the final time.
In the next two months, former first lady Michelle Obama will return to the show, as will Channing Tatum, Serena Williams, Zac Efron and Adam Levine.
Diane Keaton, Kim Kardashian, and DeGeneres’ own wife, Portia de Rossi, are also slated to appear.
It’s the end of an era!
