‘Megyn’ show is ‘abusive’
A top staffer on Megyn Kelly’s show has been fired after claiming there is a “toxic and demeaning” environment on set, rife with bullying and abuse. Kevin Bleyer was fired as a writer from “Megyn Kelly Today” this week after complaining that Kelly’s two top execs, Jackie Levin and Christine Cataldi, were bullying lower-level staffers. He was fired even though Kelly has made fighting abuse her personal crusade. Plus, in the wake of Matt Lauer, NBC ordered all staff to report workplace bad behavior, supposedly without fear of reprisal. Bleyer — a multiple Emmy-winning, ex-writer for “The Daily Show” and speechwriter for President Barack Obama — on Tuesday sent an e-mail to NBC News HR and was fired shortly after. He wrote, “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.” He claims that Cataldi calls her assistant “an idiot,” and Levin called him a “f - - king whiner.” Bleyer continues: “It is a special absurdity — and what some find a hard-to-swallow injustice — that as a team we’ve been lauded for covering harassment stories daily on air, while the staff producing those stories feels so embattled and bullied themselves. As a result, veteran staffers are looking for the exits.” He said that if he is fired for complaining, he is likely to sue. There is no suggestion that Kelly is involved in the “toxic” bullying. An NBC News rep said, “Jackie and Christine are being attacked unfairly. They are both excellent and experienced producers, and have the full support of everyone here.” Of Bleyer: “He was let go for one reason only: He was the wrong fit for this role, as a comedy writer at a morning news broadcast.” Bleyer did not immediately respond for comment.