A former writer for “Megyn Kelly Today” was fired this week after complaining about the show’s “toxic and demeaning” working conditions.
In a memo obtained by The Daily Mail, Kevin Bleyer claims he was subject to “abusive treatment” while working on Kelly’s show.
Apparently, Kelly’s oft-repeated commitment to fight network television abuse did nothing to save Bleyer’s job, nor did NBC’s recent order that staffers are obliged to report workplace abuse and harassment wherever they see it.
Bleyer sent his list of grievances to NBC’s Human Resources department on Tuesday, which wasted no time in firing their top writer, a recipient of numerous Emmy awards and a former speech writer for former president Barack Obama.
His memo, first published by The Daily Mail, lists his complaints leveled at Kelly’s principal producers: “I’m sad to say … the executive incompetence continues — as does the dysfunctional management, abusive treatment, maddening hypocrisy, staggering inefficiencies, acidic and deficient communication, and relentless scapegoating. Jackie Levin persists in creating a toxic and demeaning environment, and Christine Cataldi enables and reinforces it.”
Bleyer says Catladi’s favourite name for her assistant is “idiot” and alleges that Levin referred to Bleyer as a “fucking whiner” when the writer introduced his ideas to improve the show.
Bleyer described the atmosphere as “a special absurdity” because “as a team we’ve been lauded for covering harassment stories daily on air, while the staff producing those stories feels soembatled and bulled themselves.”
NBC News dismissed Bleyer’s claims. “Jackie and Christine are being attacked unfairly,” a spokesman said in a statement. “They are both excellent and experienced producers, and have the full support of everyone here.”
“[Bleyer] was let go for one reason only: he was the wrong fit for this role, as a comedy writer at a morning news broadcast.”