The Most Controversial Talk Show Hosts and Their Most Notorious Interviews

In 2023, Phil McGraw announced that his long-running talk show, “Dr. Phil,” would be coming to an end after 20 successful seasons. Although the show had brought in viewers and gained a large following, it had also sparked a number of controversies. In February 2022, BuzzFeed News reported that several employees of the show had come forward with allegations of verbal abuse, manipulation, unethical behavior, and racism. One employee stated, “This show destroyed me mentally, emotionally, and physically. They make you feel like not only are you not worth anything, every single day you’re told how s****y you are, how horrible your work is, yet you’re indispensable so they don’t fire you. That type of mental game emotionally and physically carries with us into other positions.” In response to the claims, a spokesperson for “Dr. Phil” denied the allegations featured in the BuzzFeed story and said that the show had “sincerely and respectfully worked with thousands of appreciative guests” and strived to create a safe and open environment.