ZingVlog

The Untold Truth Of Dr. Phil

In 2022, Dr. Phil McGraw had more to worry about than dubious tabloid stories when BuzzFeed News published a blockbuster exposé. According to that report, 12 "Dr. Phil" staffers — both former and current — shared allegations of a toxic workplace on the show, claiming they suffered verbal abuse, intimidation, and racism. In addition, the report also claimed that guests on the show were routinely exploited due to their vulnerable psychological state. Most ironically, 11 of those interviewed for the story claimed that working for a TV show supposedly meant to help people improve their mental health completely trashed their own. "Even when I quit, I had to go to therapy for it," one former staffer said, "which is crazy because you're working for a therapist."

ViacomCBS, the studio that distributed "Dr. Phil," issued a statement in response: "Creating safe and inclusive working environments is a top priority ... We encourage any employee who believes that they or others within the company have been treated unfairly to report it without a fear of retaliation. We take seriously all such reports," read the statement, as reported by USA Today.

Meanwhile, both McGraw's attorney and a rep for the show also issued statements to E! News, denying the exposé's allegations. The former blasted accusations of racism as an "absurd, ridiculous attention grab," while the latter characterized the piece as a "sensationalized and baseless article."

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Kelle Repass

Update: 2024-06-17