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Howard Stern has been slammed in the wake of layoffs at his show, with insiders reportedly saying staffers are disheartened after years of loyal service.
'You'd think Howard would have been generous with these guys, some who worked for him for decades, but nope!' an insider told The US Sun on Monday.
Stern staffers who had been let go were given a bit more than one week's salary commensurate with each year they had worked for the radio star, a source reportedly told the outlet.
That amount is less than usual media industry severance payouts, which work out to about two weeks of salary for a year of employment, according to the publication.
Howard Stern Show lays off 12 employees
Among the 12 employees laid off, were Benjy Bronk, who had been with the show since 1999, as well as on-air personalities Memet Walker, Jon Blitt and Mike Trainor, according to The IUS Sun.
Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Stern and Sirius XM as well as Bronk, Trainor and Blitt, for further comment on the story.
'They let go of Benjy Bronk who had been a huge figure on the show. He was there for more than 25 years,' a source told the outlet.
Trainor took to X on July 16 acknowledging his departure from the show.
'My run on The Howard Stern Show ended this week after 12 amazing years,' he said.
Trainor continued: 'Incredibly grateful to Howard and the whole gang for the ride and excited for what’s next.'
'If you know me, like me, or are even vaguely aware of me and don’t hate me and you’re working on something cool, hit me up.'
He added: 'Overwhelmed by the positivity. Thanks everyone!'
Stern branded ‘ruthless’ over layoffs
Certain aspects of the situation involving the laid-off staffers were shocking and made the 72-year-old radio legend look 'ruthless.'
'He's a millionaire who got there with the help of his team,' the insider told The Sun. 'It's incredible that these guys, who are all older, have to go and hit the pavement when they should be simply focused on retirement.'
The staffers 'were gone that day' after they were instructed to depart the premises following the July 13 Zoom call in which the news of the layoffs was announced, according to The US Sun.
The significant staffing changes come about eight months after Stern signed a new three-year deal with SiriusXM, his home for two decades after leaving terrestrial radio.
'I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all,' he said on his program upon inking the pact. 'More free time and continuing to be on the radio.'
Stern plans weekly show after summer
A source told Page Six earlier this month that Stern had been planning to scale down to one new show weekly this fall.
'He just doesn’t need that much content anymore,' an insider shared.
The new show will begin when Stern comes back from his summer vacation and the other four days a week will be programmed with past material.
Prior to the 2025 contract, Stern's most recent deal was for five years and $500,000,000, Page Six reported.
In May, Stern's wife Beth, 54, was asked about what impact she had on his call to come back, while appearing on Andy Cohen Live.
Cohen asked Beth, 'Every time there's a renegotiation that comes up with Sirius, what is your role in that? Do you try to steer him in a certain direction?'
Beth said, 'Yes - and I feel I'm very influential. I feel that it's very good for him to continue [broadcasting] ... he still enjoys doing it; he's still, I think, very good at it.'
Beth said she feels that her husband continuing with his show – which he has hosted from home since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic more than six years ago – keeps him 'connected' to what is going on throughout the world.
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