Howard Stern and wife Beth sued by fired former employee who accuses couple of creating ‘hostile work environment’

Howard Stern and his wife, Beth, are being sued by former employees for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and using a fake confidentiality agreement to ‘silence’ him.

According to the legal complaint obtained by The Daily Mail, Stern’s former executive assistant Leslie Kuhn sued the shock jock, 73, his wife, 52, and his production company, One Twelve, Inc., over allegations that the defendants offered him fraudulent and unenforceable confidentiality agreements. and The Howard Stern Production Company, Inc.

According to the court document, Kuhn was first hired by SiriusXM as an ‘office manager’ for The Howard Stern Show in September 2022. He became Stern’s executive assistant in January 2024.

‘Kuhn’s employment as Stern’s Executive Assistant was never conditioned on Kuhn entering into an employment contract or confidentiality/confidentiality agreement with any person or persons, natural or otherwise,’ the document states.

In May 2024, at the request of Stern and his wife, Kuhn moved to Southampton, New York, to work on the couple’s $20 million ‘doomsday bunker’.

Kuhn claims Beth later greatly expanded her duties, having her manage the star’s household operations, such as her famous in-home cat rescue and grooming operation, as well as the mansion’s staff, including payroll.

Under a legal complaint, Stern’s former executive assistant Leslie Kuhn is suing herself, her husband, her production company One Twelve, Inc., and The Howard Stern Production Company, Inc., over allegations that the defendants offered her false and unenforceable confidentiality agreements.

According to the document, Kuhn’s employment was terminated in February 2026, which he claimed was due to “a hostile work environment and the enabling of that hostile work environment, the intense strains placed on the household by irresponsible and indefensible animal rescue and feeding operations conducted on-site, and grossly unregulated and questionable business operations and accounting practices.”

Kuhn claims he was accused of ‘alleged misconduct’ by One Twelve’s Chief Financial Officer Mark D. Garten before his termination, which he denies.

He also alleges that his termination occurred after he received a letter from Stern’s production company in December 2025 stating that he would receive a raise to $265,000 and an $80,000 bonus in 2026.

According to the document, Kuhn alleges that a law firm representing One Twelve presented him with a “separation agreement” that included a confidentiality agreement on or about February 26, 2026.

He claims he appeared signed when he started working for Stern years ago, but denies doing so.

Kuhn also alleges that the confidentiality agreement was signed before interviewing for the position, and claims that the signature was ‘nothing more than his typewritten name in the same font style and size used to identify the parties’ names in the statements of the agreement.’

He alleges that the NDA was ‘manufactured by Defendants in general and Beth Stern in particular.’

Kuhn asked the court to declare the NDA and NDA unenforceable so that he could ‘freely’ discuss his termination and termination.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Sterns’ representatives for comment and has yet to hear back.

Last year, Stern announced that he had signed a new three-year deal with SiriusXM; After weeks of speculation, his self-titled show was scheduled to end.

In May 2024, Stern and his wife moved to Southampton, New York, at Kuhn’s request, to work on the couple’s $20 million ‘doomsday bunker’ (pictured)

Kuhn claims Beth then greatly expanded her duties, having her manage the mansion’s staff, including payroll, as well as the star’s home operations, such as her famous in-home cat rescue and grooming operation (the Sterns were pictured at a rescue event in 2018).

His announcement quickly ended months of retirement rumors that stemmed from an earlier joke in which he led fans to believe his show was on its way to being taken off the air.

“I’m happy to announce that I’ve found a way to have more free time and continue to be on radio,” Stern told fans on the microphone.

He said, ‘Yes, we are going back for three years.’

The news, in which social media users criticized the platforms and many people claimed that Stern was nothing but a ‘past’ that should have retired years ago, was not received positively on the internet.

This marks the third time Stern has extended his contract with the satellite radio company, following previous deals in 2010 and 2020, according to Forbes; the second is a five-year, $500 million deal.

‘I am very old. I’m not supposed to be working… Where do I start with this? Some of the staff asked, “Can we go in and guess?” he said. “The people who work here are hoping I stay,” he told fans on Tuesday.

But the broadcaster admitted that despite his passion for radio, he enjoys having “free time”.

‘I need time. I didn’t have any time. I’ve worked all my life. ‘I’ve never had a private life,’ Stern explained.

‘I thought maybe at this point in my life I could have some free time,’ he added. ‘It would be sad but exciting for me.’

It gave a general preview of the next three years, with summer vacations and limited visits to SiriusXM’s New York studios.

“I’m really sorry,” Stern told fans. ‘I still love being on the radio. ‘I think the show is better than ever.’

The host joined then-Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. in 2006 and became one of the highest-paid personalities in the broadcasting industry; It was a game-changer for both the company and the industry.

At its peak, The Howard Stern Show reached 60 markets and attracted more than 20 million listeners.

Rumors of Stern’s future with SiriusXM broke in August 2025 and were reignited when he postponed his September return until after the summer break.

A source told the Daily Mail at the time that the delay was due to Stern’s ‘disappointments over the new contract’ with the audio company.

Another insider added in August that Stern could get a 1-2 year contract if they can meet him where he wants financially. He doesn’t want to pull the plug on his employees like that.’

A separate source said the star would ‘likely sell his catalog of programs for replay’ on uncensored channels Howard 100 and Howard 101 if he did not renew his contract with SiriusXM.

He then went on to do a prank segment with TV star Andy Cohen, who was hosting the show at the time, in September.

I know you were expecting a big reveal from Howard, and it wasn’t planned to go this way. This was supposed to be a cleaner transition. “I’m kind of flapping my wings,” Cohen said.

He also claimed that the show would eventually be called Andy 100, adding that he “couldn’t possibly fill the void”.

Thousands of people online took to social media to claim that Stern was nothing more than a ‘bygone’ who should have retired years ago when it was announced that he had signed a new contract with SiriusXM.

However, just 20 minutes later, Stern came on air to explain that it was just a joke and that he was postponing his return due to illness rather than contract negotiations.

She explained during the episode: ‘It made me so angry that everyone was writing to me, asking if I was okay because I got fired.’

Stern later said, “None of it is true, zero facts,” referring to the allegations of his dismissal. ‘What makes me angry is that I can’t go anymore. I was thinking of retiring. ‘I can’t do it anymore.’