Former staffers of Howard Stern spoke out against his leadership three years ago, when former assistants accused him of creating a hostile work environment.
Several former Stern employees who worked on “The Howard Stern Show” from 1986 to 2005 revealed the “terrifying” truth in the 2023 Vice TV documentary series “The Dark Side of 2000’s Shock Jocks.”
Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling, who was a cast member and writer on the show from 1983 to 2001, claimed that most of Stern’s staff “was not well paid,” even though Stern “made untold millions of dollars.”
“I was horrified by what was going on,” said Martling, now 78, before adding: “There was so much money coming in. The amount of money was unbelievable.”
Stern’s refusal to give her a raise was ultimately the reason for Martling’s exit from the show.
“You’re a very rich, successful person, and there’s someone sitting next to you who makes your job more fun, and you let them go?” Mr. Martling said of Mr. Stern. “Because he asked for more money? Especially when we’re friends. It’s driving me nuts.”
During the conversation, Martling accused Stern of bragging about his loyalty, explaining, “He’s making all of his listeners call me cheesy, and he’s just yelling at the top of his lungs about how he’s the most loyal man in the world… You know, it’s funny.”
Elsewhere in the documentary, “Stuttering John” Melendez claimed he only made $20,000 a year.
And after being on the show for 15 years and making $75,000, he eventually left to make about $350,000 to $400,000 on Jay Leno.
Melendez, now 60, said of Stern: “He couldn’t make me evolve and be happy.”
Steve Grillo, who interned on the show from 1991 to 1998, claimed he was not paid at all until his sixth year on the job.
“I started receiving minimum wage for about 30 hours a week. Minimum wage at the time was about $6.35,” he explained. “So I got paid for 30 hours and worked about 60 hours.”
Grillo, now 58, recalled asking K-Rock vice president and general manager Tom Chiusano for a raise to qualify for health insurance, but was allegedly denied.
When contacted by Mr. Stern about the situation, the shock jock allegedly told the then-intern, “Oh, well, it’s just Tom.”
“This is a terrible move to not defend the employees who have taken care of you for the past eight years,” Grillo said.
“You make a million dollars an hour and I have to work in nightclubs to survive,” he continued. “And this is the moment I knew I was leaving. If that guy doesn’t support me, I’m out. And that’s when I left.”
Mr. Stern’s alleged behavior toward employees resurfaced after Leslie Kuhn obtained court documents accusing Mr. Stern, 72, and his wife, Beth, of creating a hostile work environment.
Kuhn said she was responsible for managing the staff at the couple’s 20,000-square-foot mansion in Southampton, New York.
She claimed she was fired in February 2026, even though Howard’s production company promised her a raise and bonus in December 2025.
According to the documents, Kuhn alleged that she was fired due to a “hostile work environment” and “immeasurable pressure on families created by irresponsible and unsustainable animal rescue and adoption practices on-site, as well as highly disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices.”
Kuhn also claimed that he was presented with a non-disclosure agreement that kept him quiet from discussing his hiring and firing, but that he did not sign it.
Page Six has reached out to Stern’s representatives for comment, but has not received a response.
