Extra boss accused of creating a toxic workplace environment and threatening Mario Lopez

The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast's Diana Falzone and Justin Baragona report that Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey, "who has run Extra with an 'iron fist' for 20 years, allegedly 'bullies' and 'screams at' staff and key on-air talent, makes herself the show’s top priority, treats Extra as 'her playground,' receives an exorbitant salary while the rest of the staff experiences 'dark weeks,' and leaves employees often feeling undervalued and ignored." She also runs the California-based show from her Florida home. The Daily Beast alleges that she threatened former Extra host Mario Lopez with pushing damaging personal stories about him if he did not re-sign with the show. “This was the most toxic and hostile workplace environment I’ve ever worked in,” one former Extra researcher told The Daily Beast. In 2019, The New York Times wrote about Gregorisch-Dempsey's decision to hire Billy Bush for his first TV job since his infamous Access Hollywood tape. She previously hired him in 2001. The Daily Beast says that since it started making inquiries, human resources has announced it would visit Extra on a weekly basis. “We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all employees. While conducting a thorough third-party investigation into the show, additional allegations were made and they will be reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation,” Warner Bros. Television Group wrote last month in a statement to The Daily Beast when first reached for comment about claims of a toxic workplace. “We have already begun taking appropriate action based on our findings, and once the investigation has concluded, we will take additional measures as needed.” Extra is the latest Telepictures show to come under scrutiny for alleged toxic behavior. Telepictures has a long history of toxic workplace allegations, form The Rosie O'Donnell Show to The Ellen DeGeneres Show to TMZ.