‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Staffers Claim the Work Environment Is ‘Toxic’: Inside the Allegations

The Kelly Clarkson Show is under fire after former members of the talk show’s staff came forward with claims that there is a toxic work environment behind the scenes. Keep scrolling to learn about the allegations, Kelly Clarkson’s response and updates.

What Has ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Staff Said About the ‘Toxic’ Work Environment?

Several past employees shared their negative experiences about working on the show hosted by Kelly Clarkson in a story published by Rolling Stone on Friday, May 12.

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The staffers claimed that they were overworked and underpaid, while they even said that the environment was “traumatizing to their mental health.”

“I remember 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?’” one former employee who chose to remain anonymous told the publication.

Others noted that the job doesn’t pay well and many of the employees had to take second jobs to pay their bills. Additionally, the former employees said that they voiced their complaints with the show’s human resources department. However, the issues were ​allegedly never addressed.

Has Kelly Clarkson Responded to the ‘Toxic’ Work Environment Claims?

The “Breakaway” songstress responded to the allegations via Instagram on Saturday, May 13, calling them “unacceptable.”

“In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I’ve always led with my heart and what I believed to be right,” she began. “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.”

She went on to say that she is “committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment at The Kelly Clarkson Show.”

“As we prepare for a move to the East Coast, I am more committed than ever to ensuring that not only our team that is moving but also our new team in [New York] is comprised of the best and kindest in the business. Part of that build will include leadership training for all senior staff, including myself,” she continued. “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.”

While the “Since U Been Gone” artist is committed to making changes within her talk show, it appears she was not aware of the problems prior to reports. One former staffer stated that the host has “no clue how unhappy” the team behind the scenes is, while another added that the American Idol alum is “fantastic” to work with.

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Clarkson further spoke about the allegations while speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on June 22.

After admitting she was “blindsided,” the host said she hopes to learn from the experience.

“I think the important thing is, I think we get into this mindset of canceling everything or everyone. And I think that’s not unhealthy because it’s like, ‘OK then…’ Because what you’re saying is every time somebody says something, then it’s just over,” Clarkson told the outlet. “And it’s like, that’s not how you work on things. You have to progress. You have to go, ‘Oh man, well maybe we can do better at this. Obviously, we might have missed the mark here, so what can we do better?'”

The report detailed the staffers accusing the show’s executive producer, Alex Duda, of allegedly shielding Clarkson from the problems.

“I think Alex Duda’s a monster,” one person said, adding that Duda allegedly cursed at employees on stage. “I have a friend who’s an executive producer who warned me about taking this job because apparently she has done this on every show she’s worked on.”

Duda has not publicly addressed the claims.

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How Has NBC Responded to Claims that ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Work Environment Is ‘Toxic’?

After the article was published, a spokesperson for ​NBCUniversal said in a statement to In Touch that they are “committed to a safe and respectful work environment” and are taking the complaints “very seriously.”

“When issues are reported they are promptly reviewed, investigated and acted upon as appropriate,” their statement continued. “The Kelly Clarkson Show strives to build a safe, respectful and equitable workplace that nurtures a culture of inclusivity and creativity.”

Representatives of Kelly Clarkson did not immediately respond to In Touch‘s request for comment.