Howard Stern’s former assistant sues claiming famed radio personality created hostile workplace
Howard Stern’s former assistant The famed radio personality and his wife are being sued for allegedly subjecting him to a hostile work environment while working at their 20,000-square-foot property in the Hamptons, according to court filings reviewed by . Independent.
In a state lawsuit filed Sunday, Leslie Kuhn, who began working for Stern as an office manager at SiriusXM in 2022, said she was named the shock jock’s executive assistant the following year and moved to Southampton, New York, in 2024 at the couple’s request to provide “assistance with such matters as managing staff at the mansion, setting staff schedules, completing staff payroll, and managing general household operations, including Beth Stern’s affairs.” comprehensive in-home cat rescue and care operations.
Beth Stern is a Longtime animal activist who rescues and protects abandoned dogs and catsand is a national spokesperson and board member for North Shore Animal League America.
Kuhn’s complaint He says he was given a raise from $100,000 to $265,000, as well as an $80,000 bonus, in December 2025, but was fired in February 2026 due to “alleged misconduct.” However, although the complaint does not provide details of the alleged wrongdoing, it does state that Kuhn “partially and completely rejected the justification presented to him” and that it was “concocted by the Defendants in general and Beth Stern in particular.”
“Rather, Kuhn alleges that her termination was the result of, among other things, a hostile work environment and the enabling of that hostile work environment, the enormous 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,” the complaint states.
Howard Stern’s former executive assistant says she was silenced by an NDA she allegedly never signed (Getty Images)
However, Kuhn claims that the allegations against him have damaged his reputation so much that they “will have a chilling effect on the roster.” [her] future employment prospects.
Kuhn also accuses Stern’s production company of forging his signature. confidentiality agreements He denies agreeing and asks a judge to declare them null and void because it prohibits him from telling his version of events to anyone, including prospective employers, and allows Howard and Beth to “talk freely about Kuhn with impunity.”
“Therefore Kuhn, Stern, Beth Stern, Sirius and [Stern’s production company]“and terminated his employment as necessary to resolve the allegations against him and protect his reputation and future employment opportunities,” the complaint states.
Attorney John Leonard, who represents Kuhn, said: Independent He said he wanted the court to consider the validity and enforceability of two NDAs that Kuhn said he never signed.
“It’s easy to see that they’re one-sided; they’re not reciprocal, so one side is given the right to say whatever they want while the other side is silenced,” Leonard said.
Howard Stern and his wife, Beth, an ardent animal advocate. The couple is being sued by a former executive assistant who says they created a hostile work environment (Getty Images)
Beyond forbidding Kuhn from discussing all the details of his work with her. assThe allegedly fraudulent confidentiality agreement prohibits her from talking about the couple’s “family members or friends, daily activities and personal habits (e.g., food preferences, sleep habits, hobbies), consumer product use, restaurant, hotel or other establishment choices, entertainment preferences, location or contents of residences and other properties, travel arrangements, location(s) or methods, political affiliations” and “any other matters” related to Stern’s work.
Such a contractual relationship would put Kuhn, described in the complaint as “an at-will employee with substantially less influence and resources than the Sterns, their affiliates, and partners,” at an unfair disadvantage “personally, professionally, and publicly.”
According to Leonard, who said his client never wanted things to come to this point, confidentiality agreements are used to silence people like Kuhn who are “at a distinct disadvantage in terms of influence and resources.”
“Seeking a declaratory judgment from the court was a decision not taken lightly,” Leonard said. Independent. “However, my client is a very strong woman and wants the court to tell her what her rights are so that she can proceed in accordance with the law. It is a very sad situation not knowing whether you can defend yourself against the allegations of others. But I must say that she is handling this situation very well, she is very strong and is looking forward to her day in court.”
Independent He has reached out to Stern’s representatives for comment.
Kuhn is now seeking a declaration nullifying the confidentiality agreements, plus attorney fees and court costs.
