Australian TV executive recalls a bizarre experience with Ellen staffers

ET Canada

In the wake of toxic workplace allegations on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Australia’s Today show executive Neil Breen recalled an unusual experience when one of his reporters, Richard Wilkins, prepared to interview Ellen DeGeneres. “The producer called us aside and said, 'Now Neil, no one is to talk to Ellen. You don’t talk to her, you don’t approach her, you don’t look at her. She’ll come in, she’ll sit down, she’ll talk to Richard and then Ellen will leave,'" recalled Breen, who didn't actually talk to DeGeneres himself. He added: “I have no idea whether she’s a nice person or not, I wouldn’t have a clue. But I can tell you the people who work with her walked on eggshells the whole time. We’re there to do an interview to promote what she’s doing, but you can’t look at her? Someone get real.”