Several famous friends of Ellen DeGeneres have leapt to her defence amid allegations of a "toxic" environment and mistreatment of staff and guests at her US talk show.
Ashton Kutcher, Katy Perry, Diane Keaton and Jay Leno have all publicly expressed their support for the daytime talk show host on social media.
"I haven't spoken with @TheEllenShow and can only speak from my own experience," Kutcher wrote on twitter.
"She and her team have only treated me and my team with respect and kindness. She never pandered to celebrity which I always saw as a refreshing honesty. When things aren't right she handles it and fixes."
Earlier in the week, Perry stood up for her "friend", tweeting that she had "only ever had positive takeaways" from her time with DeGeneres and visits to the show.
"I think we all have witnessed the light and continual fight for equality that she has brought to the world through her platform for decades. Sending you love and a hug, friend."
Former late-night television host Leno said he wouldn't "discard a 40-year-friendship on hearsay", mentioning the "over $125 million dollars" he said DeGeneres had raised for charity.
Keaton wrote that she "always enjoyed her visits to the Ellen Show", adding: "I've seen how the audience exudes happiness and gratitude. She gives back to so many including me."
When news broke that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would undergo an internal investigation by ArnerMedia, the host penned a memo to staff acknowledging the issues at the show and insisting steps were being taken to correct them.
"I'm also learning that people who work with me and for me are speaking on my behalf and misrepresenting who I am and that has to stop," the memo reportedly read.
"As someone who was judged and nearly lost everything for just being who I am, I truly understand and have deep compassion for those being looked at differently, or treated unfairly, not equal, or – worse – disregarded. To think that any one of you felt that way is awful to me."
