James Corden could replace Ellen DeGeneres's afternoon talk show slot amid toxic workplace scandal
James Corden is being lined up to replace Ellen DeGeneres's afternoon talk show given the toxic workplace accusations made by her employees. Ellen, 62, has been accused of propagating a toxic work culture and has been called for her alleged bullying behavior by her employees, past guests and also fellow celebrities.
It has now been reported that 41-year-old James Corden who is the host of the late-night talk show the 'Late Late Show' in the USA is ready to supersede the coveted late afternoon slot amid rumors that Ellen will be quitting her show. Sources familiar with the show have said that the team is concerned that allegations of a toxic work environment could force Ellen to quit.
As per insiders at NBC whose network airs Ellen's show, James had been seen as 'the long term successor' to Ellen much before she was engulfed in controversy and scandal. It was just last week that Variety had revealed that Ellen and her show were being investigated amid allegations of racism, bullying and also sexual harassment off camera.
Allegations also claimed that talk show host Ellen had turned a blind eye to these incidents and had not done anything to intervene. A source spoke to The Sun and said, "This issue has fast-tracked everything and made everyone look at the future today. James Corden was being eyed for Ellen's job in the long term before any of this came to light. Now, this shocking new development places a spotlight on the next step."
"James and his team have been trailblazers in modern TV, taking the once considered graveyard chat show slot into a cutting edge format with huge online, social media and global recognition," an insider added. "Replacing Ellen was always going to be a tough challenge, but he is a natural fit and easy transition. James would freshen up daytime and with a free hand would be allowed to build a new afternoon era," the source continued.
It is said that James is contracted to CBS which airs his Late Late Show until 2022.
Last week's reports had suggested that Ellen was ready to leave her show as accusations of her 'mean' behavior continued to stack up against her. A source from the show told Daily Mail, "She feels she can’t go on and the only way to recover her personal brand from this is to shut down the show."
They shared that the "truth is that she knew what was going on." Earlier this week, Ellen's staff had called out Ellen for putting the blame at the executive producer's feet. A staff member said, "Don't think for a minute anything she has said in that apology means anything. She created and then enabled this toxic culture to go on for so long."
Ellen had written an apology note to staff and said, "On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness – no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect.
"Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry."