Howard Stern hit with legal action from former employee who alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment
In a shock development for the controversial DJ, Howard Stern is facing legal action from a former employee who alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment and presented with a fraudulent non-disclosure agreement intended to “silence” her.
Howard Stern is facing legal action from a former employee who alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment and presented with a fraudulent non-disclosure agreement intended to “silence” her.
The complaint, obtained by the Daily Mail, has been filed by Leslie Kuhn, who worked as an executive assistant to shock jock Howard, 73.
The lawsuit names Howard, his wife Beth Stern, 52, and their companies One Twelve, Inc. and The Howard Stern Production Company, Inc..
Leslie alleges she was presented with “fraudulent and unenforceable” non-disclosure agreements after her employment, which began in September 2022 at SiriusXM on The Howard Stern Show, before becoming Howard’s executive assistant in January 2024.
She later relocated in May 2024 to Southampton, New York, to work at the couple’s home.
According to the complaint, Leslie said: “At no time was Kuhn’s employment as Stern’s Executive Assistant ever conditioned on Kuhn entering into an employment contract or non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement with any person or persons, natural or otherwise.”
Leslie claims her role expanded significantly after the move, alleging Beth required her to oversee household staff, payroll and operations, including the couple’s cat rescue activities.
Her employment was terminated in February 2026.
The filing states the dismissal was due to a “hostile work environment and enablement of that hostile work environment, immense pressures on the household created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site, and massively disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices”.
She also alleges she was accused of “alleged misconduct” by One Twelve’s vice-president of finance, Mark D. Garten, before her dismissal – which she denies.
Leslie further claims she had previously been promised a salary increase to $265,000 and an $80,000 bonus in 2026.
The complaint states Leslie was presented with a “separation agreement” on or about 26 February 2026 that included an NDA.
She alleges the document was backdated and made to appear as though it had been signed at the start of her employment, adding the signature “is nothing more than her typewritten name in the same font style and size used to identify the parties’ names in the recitals of the agreement.”
Leslie claims the NDA was “manufactured by the Defendants in general and Beth Stern in particular,” and is seeking a ruling that the NDA and confidentiality agreement are unenforceable so she can speak “freely” about her employment and termination.
Separately, Howard confirmed he had signed a new three-year deal with SiriusXM, telling listeners: “I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all... more free time and continuing to be on the radio.”
He added: “Yes, we are coming back for three years.”
He said: “I’m old as f***. I’m not supposed to be working... where do I begin with this? Some of the staff said, ‘Can we come in and guess?’ People working here are hoping I stay.”
