Steve Harvey
Television host Steve Harvey sent an email to the staff of his talk show telling them not to approach him and to never open the door of his dressing room, May 10, 2017. In this photo, Harvey speaks during the Neighborhood Awards Beach Party at the Mandalay Bay Beach in Las Vegas, July 24, 2016. Getty Images

Long time television host Steve Harvey allegedly sent out a memo Wednesday to his staff that instructed them, among other directives, to “not come to my dressing room unless invited” and to “approach me while I’m in the makeup chair unless I ask to speak with you directly.”

“I am seeking more free time for me throughout the day. Do not wait in any hallway to speak to me. I hate being ambushed. Please make an appointment. I promise you I will not entertain you in the hallway, and do not attempt to walk with me,” Harvey wrote in the memo, which was first published by Robert Feder’s Chicago media blog.

“Everyone, do not take offense to the new way of doing business. It is for the good of my personal life and enjoyment.”

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According to Variety, the memo was sent to his staff prior to season five premiere of his famous talk show “Steve Harvey,” which is scheduled to end this month. Harvey already has another new series lined up for a September debut this year.

“STEVE is going to be different than my current daytime show. The new location will allow me to welcome more celebrity guests and more importantly let me do what I enjoy doing best, being funny,” Harvey said while announcing the new show.

In 2016, Harvey signed a new deal with NBC Universal and IMG productions to launch a new and modified syndicated show that as a result would also give him an ownership stake and control over the production. The past five seasons of his show, "Steve Harvey," had been produced by Endemol Shine North America and distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television. Producers of the new show concluded that more celebrity guests will appear on the show as it is moving from Chicago to Los Angeles, citing that more talent is based in Southern California than the Midwest.

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According to Radar Online, Harvey sacked all his Chicago-based staff last week and hired a new crew in Los Angeles for his new day time show “Steve.”

Some sources told Radar Online that current employees were willing to shift with Harvey from Chicago to Los Angeles, however they were not given a chance to do so.

“He didn’t offer interviews to many people who have been with him since beginning, and hurt lots of people who would move on their own to LA to be part of the new show,” one staffer told Radar Online. “Steve never even addressed the staff about it. He never said a word about them all losing their jobs. These are die-hard loyal staff members.”

Another insider said that Harvey didn’t even disclose the news of their firing himself, instead send his executive producer to do the job.

“The staff were told by the Executive Producer, not Steve. The EP said that Steve would talk to them and then he never did. Not even an email saying 'thanks for what you do', or 'good luck,’” the insider said.

Harvey has been in the spotlight for his behavior in the past. In January he was criticized for a controversial segment on his talk show, which made fun of Asian men. In 2015, Harvey was trending on Twitter for an alleged homophobic rant on his talk show.

Read his full memo here as published by Robert Feder’s Chicago media blog:

Good morning, everyone. Welcome back.

I’d like you all to review and adhere to the following notes and rules for Season 5 of my talk show.

There will be no meetings in my dressing room. No stopping by or popping in. NO ONE.

Do not come to my dressing room unless invited.

Do not open my dressing room door. IF YOU OPEN MY DOOR, EXPECT TO BE REMOVED.

My security team will stop everyone from standing at my door who have the intent to see or speak to me.

I want all the ambushing to stop now. That includes TV staff.

You must schedule an appointment.

I have been taken advantage of by my lenient policy in the past. This ends now. NO MORE.

Do not approach me while I’m in the makeup chair unless I ask to speak with you directly. Either knock or use the doorbell.

I am seeking more free time for me throughout the day.

Do not wait in any hallway to speak to me. I hate being ambushed. Please make an appointment.

I promise you I will not entertain you in the hallway, and do not attempt to walk with me.

If you’re reading this, yes, I mean you.

Everyone, do not take offense to the new way of doing business. It is for the good of my personal life and enjoyment.

Thank you all,

Steve Harvey

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