Ellen Degeneres Crew Furious as She Hires Non-Union Workers

Crew members of the "Ellen DeGeneres" show are furious after the talk show host hired a non-union company to help produce her show from home, leaving her regular unionized employees in the dark. In addition, here employees are upset at the talk show host for hiring and the lack of communication from higher-ups regarding their pay and job security, according to a report.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity revealed to Variety that they heard from social media, rather than execs, that a remote set had been erected at DeGeneres' mansion.

Their frustration grew when the remote production hired Key Code Media to assist in the technical elements of the show- a job that DeGeneres' original crew members are capable of doing.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson said that, due to social distancing requirements, there had to be "technical changes in the way the show is produced" in order to "comply with city ordinances and public health protocols." No crew member had lost a job since the hiring of Key Code, the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, anxiety mounts as idle employees question their salaries, which was last paid in full on March 16. The Warner Bros. lot was then shut down due to the coronavirus and the following week a spring break hiatus was planned. After being left in the dark for over two weeks, crew members eventually heard that their pay had been reduced from 10 hours per day to eight hours per day. Furthermore, producers also kept quiet when DeGeneres made the decision to host five shows a week shot over two days, rather than her four regular shows.

"When returning from break, the crew was paid the week of March 30th despite having no firm plans for production to resume," a Warner Bros. spokesperson said. "Our executive producers and Telepictures are committed to taking care of our staff and crew and have made decisions first and foremost with them in mind," the spokesperson said, adding that the crew had been paid consistently at reduced hours.

An IATSE rep claimed to have spoken to producers and had been informed that union members would continue to be paid but advised them to "watch closely," sources said.

Last week DeGeneres also came under fire after comparing her self-isolation in her mansion to jail. The comedian cracked the joke during an episode of her show, which she hosted from the luxurious comfort of her home.

"'This is like being in jail is what it is," she said. "Mostly because I’ve been wearing the same clothes for 10 days and everyone in here is gay!"