What further ticked them off was the fact that the show hired an outside, non-union tech company, Key Code Media, to help DeGeneres tape episodes remotely from her California home.
Production execs finally contacted the employees last week only to convey the news that they should expect a 60% reduction in pay, even as the show continues to air, according to sources close to the matter.
“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,” said a Warner Bros. spokesperson, maintaining that the crew has been paid consistently.
They also admitted that the communication could have been better, citing the issue to complications caused by Covid-19.
Despite their claims, longtime crew maintains that there has been a complete lack of transparency from the show’s execs and DeGeneres herself – even as she wrings out five episodes per week, instead of the usual four.
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To put it in perspective: majority of the crew members were unaware that DeGeneres had set up a remote set at her residence, something they found through social media posts from colleagues in other departments who have been kept on-board.
Returning to air on April 7, DeGeneres said how she “wanted to start doing my new show as soon as possible,” adding specifically that it was for “my staff and crew. I love them, I miss them, the best thing I can do to support them is to keep the show on the air.” The reality however seems to be a stark opposite.
In contrast, Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage hands were paid from Kimmel’s himself during the initial shutdown, as confirmed by two insiders. DeGeneres herself is one of the highest-paid stars on television – her total net worth is a reported $330 million.