‘Days Of Our Lives’ Staff Cuts & Work Environment Scrutinized As Co-EP Albert Alarr Faced Misconduct Investigation
25.07.2023 - 17:37
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Emotions have been running high on the set of the long-running soap Days of Our Lives.
According to multiple sources, there has been shock, disbelief, disappointment and anger among cast and crew following the outcome of an internal investigation into misconduct allegations against longtime Days of Our Lives director/co-executive producer Albert Alarr.
Created by Ted and Betty Corday, Days of Our Lives is produced by the company they founded, Corday Productions, which is owned and run by their son, DoOL executive producer Ken Corday.
According to sources, the nine-week investigation, launched in March, was triggered by a complaint related to a recent round of layoffs. Filed by a female employee, it alleged that women had been disproportionally impacted by the cuts and were not receiving equal pay on the show, people close to the matter said.
The gender disparity of the recent staff reductions was particularly pronounced among cast members. According to sources, a total of seven women left the ranks of contract players around the time of the layoffs. Five of them were let go or demoted to recurring and two departed on their own, at least in part due to their experiences on the show. One male actor was laid off.
And of the five DoOL episodes airing each week, only one is consistently directed by a woman. The one full-time female director on the show helms the Monday shows, working alongside three full-time male directors including Alarr, who directs the Friday episodes. Another female director is part of a rotation for the fifth weekly slot that has multiple part-time helmers alternating.
This is not typical; General Hospital, for instance, has four full-time female directors, with a fifth in training, and