Howard Stern and wife Beth sued by former assistant over hostile workplace claims

Leslie Kuhn filed the lawsuit after working as an office manager before becoming Stern’s executive assistant

Howard Stern and his wife, Beth Stern, are facing legal action from a former employee who alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment during her time working for the couple.

Leslie Kuhn filed the lawsuit after working as an office manager for SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show from September 2022 before becoming Stern’s executive assistant in January 2024. Court documents state that she was later asked to relocate to the couple’s residence in Southampton, New York.

“Beth Stern told Kuhn that, in addition to assisting [Howard], Beth needed assistance with such things as managing the staff of the mansion, setting staffing schedules, completing staff payroll and managing general household operations, including Beth’s extensive at-home feline rescue and fostering operations,” the documents state.

Kuhn’s employment was terminated on February 26, with the lawsuit claiming the dismissal followed ongoing workplace concerns. “Kuhn contends that her termination was the result of, among other things, a hostile work environment and enablement of that hostile work environment, immense pressures on the household created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site, and massively disorganised and questionable business operations and accounting practices,” the filing alleges.

The lawsuit further claims that a separation agreement containing a nondisclosure clause was presented but never formally signed. “The Confidentiality Agreement was thus fabricated by the [the Sterns] and is, accordingly, void [from the beginning],” the documents state. “No person or persons, natural or otherwise, ever presented Kuhn with the Non-Disclosure Agreement for her signature. Kuhn never signed the Non-Disclosure Agreement.”

Kuhn is seeking to have the agreement declared unenforceable and is requesting legal costs. Representatives for the Sterns have been contacted for comment.