Ellen DeGeneres and her show are under attack on numerous fronts, as allegations of a toxic workplace have led to an internal investigation and more people coming forward with charges that the star is a huge diva who is far from her “nice” image. Now, as the heat gets turned up, a new report says James Corden will replace DeGeneres on her talk show.
Employees of DeGeneres show have come forward with allegations of racism, bullying and sexual harassment.
Insiders claimed to The Sun that NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy, who is involved in the investigation on the claims against "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," is a "huge fan of James" and has him "high on his wanted list for talent and a long term replacement for Ellen."
Sources added that Corden has always been seen as DeGeneres' "long term successor" and the scandal has "fast-tracked" everything.
"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," an insider said. "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. In five years he went from unknown to A-list star and creative. Currently his CBS deal is only contracted until 2022 after he turned down a five year deal."
The source added that Corden was a "natural fit" for the job.
"James would freshen up daytime and with a free hand would be allowed to build a new afternoon era."
Last week a new round of allegations emerged, this time with claims that senior executives at the show groped employees and solicited one for oral sex, The Sun reported. At the same time, it was reported that DeGeneres was considering ending her TV show.
"She feels she can't go on and the only way to recover her personal brand from this is to shut down the show," an insider at Telepictures told Daily Mail. "The truth is she knew what was going on, it's her show. The buck stops with her. She can blame every executive under the sun — but Ellen is ultimately the one to blame."
In an emotional letter to staff Thursday, DeGeneres addressed the allegations, saying she intends to "correct" issues raised about behind-the-scenes behavior.
"As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t," she wrote. "That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again."