Ellen DeGeneres' producer Andy Lassner addresses controversy surrounding show: 'It's been rough'
Ellen DeGeneres' producer Andy Lassner has spoken about the controversy surrounding the daytime talk show.
Lassner, who regularly appears in the segment 'Average Andy' on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, broke his silence on what the past few months have entailed.
"Oh look who it is. If it isn't Andy Lassner," Lassner said in an Instagram video after a short hiatus. "Well, yes it is. Your eyes do not deceive you. I'm back. I've been away for a little bit, dealing with — you know, some stuff. You may have read about it.
"It's been a couple of rough months. But it's when we go through these things, I guess, when we learn the most about ourselves, and maybe even some growth. But to tell you it hasn't been rough would be a lie, and I've always been honest with you. It's been rough. But I'm back.
"I love you guys, I miss you and I'll talk to you soon."
American comedian Ellen DeGeneres speaks on stage during "A Conversation With Ellen DeGeneres" at Rogers Arena on October 19, 2018 in Vancouver, Canada. Getty
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Lasner's remarks come on the heels of reports executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman have been ousted from the show.
The producers' departure occurred a month after a formal investigation into the show was launched by WarnerMedia.
Meanwhile, Ellen veterans Mary Connelly, Lassner and Derek Westervelt will continue to be executive producers alongside DeGeneres on the show. Since the show's inception in 2003, Connelly, Lassner and Westervelt were on board as producers.
The overhaul of the production team comes in the wake of accusations of racial insensitivity, sexual misconduct and a toxic work environment on the popular program.
