Kelly Clarkson has something to say.
About something that is rather unfortunate and very troubling.
Earlier this week, Rolling Stone published a scathing article that allegedly detailed all the unhealthy behind the scenes of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
During the presentation, a number of staff claimed that they were underpaid and that the production was “harmful to their mental health”.
One such employee—who chose to remain anonymous—recounted to the outlet how he once cried on the stage roof, wondering:
‘My goodness, what did I do? Why did I put myself through this?’”
Quoting the program’s executive producer, another told Rolling Stone:
“I think Alex Duda is a monster.
“I have a friend who is an executive producer who warned me about taking this job because apparently he has done this on every show he has worked on.”
Nearly everyone interviewed for this work agreed that Clarkson himself was unaware of all the drama, with one stating Clarkson was a “fantastic” boss and another saying Duda “protected” the singer from all his bad backstage behavior.
Now, meanwhile, Clarkson has spoken out about the scandal.
“In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I have always led with my heart and what I believe is right,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I love my team on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ and knowing that anyone who feels like they’re not being heard and or not appreciated on this show is unacceptable.”
The former American Idol winner went on to say he is “committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment.”
He plans to include leadership training for all senior staff, including himself.
“I would be surprised if [Kelly] know. I would be disappointed if he found out the staff weren’t paid for his two weeks of Christmas leave,” one former employee told Rolling Stone.
“Kelly that I’ve interacted with and everyone knows would probably be very surprised to know that.”
On May 12, after this report went viral, a representative for NBC Universal said in a statement:
“We are committed to a safe and respectful work environment and take workplace complaints very seriously and insinuate the opposite is not true.
“When issues are reported, they are promptly reviewed, investigated and acted upon accordingly.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show strives to build a safe, respectful and fair workplace that fosters a culture of inclusivity and creativity.”