Three executive producers involved in the production of The Ellen Degeneres Show have been fired as dozens of former and current employees accuse them of sexual misconduct and harassment during their involvement in the program.

Employees from the show allege that executive producers Kevin Leman, Jonathan Norman, and Ed Glavin committed various episodes of sexual misconduct for years, with many employees feeling unable to speak out against the day to day harassment. “You didn’t want to piss them off or you would be fired, so it was just that culture of fear.” as one former employee describes in Buzzfeed News “Dozens Of Former “Ellen Show” Employees Say Executive Producers Engaged In Rampant Sexual Misconduct And Harassment”.

As of Monday, all three accused executives have since parted ways with The Ellen Degeneres Show, according to a spokesperson for Warner Bros., Leman has denied all accusations, insisting that their conduct during their involvement of the show was entirely appropriate and that the allegations are untrue; but reports from ex-employees contradict their statements. According to former employees, Leman sexually harassed a company employee during a company party in 2013. Another report specifies that in May 2017, Leman was seen nonconsensually groping and kissing a production assistant in a car. Leman was also reported to have made sexually explicit comments towards many employees, gesturing towards their genitals and asking “are you a top or a bottom?”, which created an uncomfortable workspace for many. His comments were passed off as “Kevin being Kevin” but according to a former employee, “It’s masked in sarcasm, but it’s not sarcasm.”

Norman has been accused of similar behavior, such as grooming employees and later asking them if he could perform oral sex on them, though Norman has denied all accusations.

Glavin has yet to respond to any requests for a comment, though the accusations against him are serious. He had been reported to inappropriately touch several former employees, rubbing their shoulders and back, and even placing his hands around their lower waist. Glavin “managed the team through fear and intimidation.”; said a former employee, which he used “on a daily basis.” 

Many former employees also expressed discomfort in Glavin’s use of a private shower in his office bathroom. “Before you even see his desk, you see his shower,” according to an interview between a former employee and a BuzzFeed News journalist.

As The Ellen Degeneres Show seeks to move past this event, Ellen Degeneres has announced an internal investigation into the misconduct. The Executive Vice President at Warner Bros David McGuire issued an email to staff at the show, saying the studio was “absolutely committed” to “change and a new culture”. Ellen Degeneres also hosted a group video-call with all employees, announcing that some changes would be made in order to better the work environment, which left many surprised, yet “optimistic and hopeful.”

After the Monday video-call, the employees are hoping for a new beginning, and a refreshed work environment where they can be productive, communicative, and comfortable, without fear of harassment. As a former employee said, “It feels like justice has been served in some way.”