EXCLUSIVE: The set of the beloved soap opera Days of Our Lives has been filled with intense emotions. Shock, disbelief, disappointment, and anger have spread among the cast and crew following the results of an internal investigation into misconduct allegations against longtime director/co-executive producer Albert Alarr. Created by Ted and Betty Corday, Days of Our Lives is produced by Corday Productions, owned and run by their son, executive producer Ken Corday.
The investigation, which lasted nine weeks and began in March, was prompted by a complaint related to recent layoffs. A female employee alleged that women were disproportionately affected by the cuts and were not receiving equal pay on the show. The gender disparity in the staff reductions was particularly evident among the cast members. Seven women, including five contract players, were let go or demoted, while only one male actor was laid off. Additionally, only one out of the five weekly episodes of Days of Our Lives is consistently directed by a woman.
This gender imbalance is not typical in other soap operas like General Hospital, which has four full-time female directors and three male directors. The dominance of men in the head writer and executive producer positions in daytime dramas is disheartening, considering their predominantly female audience.
The investigation, conducted by Sony Pictures Television, was initiated after misconduct allegations against Albert Alarr came to light. Approximately 30-40 people, mostly women, were interviewed during the investigation. Alarr has not responded to requests for comment, and Sony TV declined to comment. Corday Productions issued a statement confirming the investigation.
Albert Alarr has been associated with Ken Corday for the past two decades and has been working on Days of Our Lives since 2003. However, according to insiders, issues with Alarr’s behavior have been present for years and intensified after he became co-executive producer in 2015. Multiple sources claim that Alarr has been abusive, making people feel uncomfortable and humiliated.
The significant number of women leaving the show in recent years, including actresses who played major characters, is a testament to the toxic environment Alarr has fostered. Men have also been publicly bullied on set, with at least one actor leaving abruptly after Alarr screamed at him in front of the cast and crew. Inappropriate comments and a frat house-like environment, where sexualized remarks about women are normalized, have been reported by staff members.
Alarr’s directing notes are often vulgar and crass, making everyone, not just women, feel uncomfortable. There have even been allegations of physical contact, including groping, against Alarr. The investigation also reviewed numerous complaints about his inappropriate comments.
It is clear that the outcome of the investigation has left the cast and crew of Days of Our Lives in a state of shock, disbelief, disappointment, and anger. The misconduct allegations against Albert Alarr have shed light on the toxic and abusive environment that has been allowed to persist on the set of this long-running soap opera.Multiple witnesses have come forward to share shocking details about the inappropriate behavior of a prominent director in the entertainment industry. According to FilmmakerFocus, the investigation revealed disturbing incidents involving the director, Alarr, that left actresses traumatized and humiliated.
One incident occurred several years ago when Alarr forcefully grabbed and kissed a DoOL actress without her consent at an event. Witnesses described the actress as horrified and deeply affected by the psychological and emotional impact of the incident. She was terrified to be alone with Alarr, according to a source close to the situation.
Another incident involved an actress filming an intimate scene directed by Alarr. Due to a mistake by the prop department, she was left exposed on camera. Irritated by the delay, Alarr allegedly made inappropriate comments and pressured the actress to hurry up. Feeling humiliated and vulnerable, the actress confronted Alarr, expressing her anger and frustration.
Despite eventually apologizing to the actress, Alarr’s actions had lasting consequences. Months later, she was informed that her role on the show would be reduced to a recurring character without a contract. These incidents, along with others, were corroborated by witnesses during the investigation.
The investigation also shed light on the lack of HR procedures on the set of the show. With no HR representatives present, issues had to be brought to the producers, with Alarr often handling them himself. This power dynamic created a culture of fear among the cast and crew, who were hesitant to speak up for fear of jeopardizing their careers.
In response to the investigation, Corday Productions, the show’s production company, took action to ensure a safe and respectful work environment. While the specific actions taken were not disclosed, sources indicate that Alarr received a written warning and was required to undergo training.
The revelations have sparked outrage among the cast and crew, leading to a pause in tapings and an extended hiatus. However, it’s important to note that the additional week off was also due to scheduling issues and a lack of scripts.
The allegations against Alarr highlight the need for stronger HR infrastructure and procedures within the industry. It is crucial to create an environment where individuals feel safe to report misconduct without fear of retaliation. The courage of those who came forward should serve as a catalyst for change and accountability in the entertainment industry.Seasons, bringing its run to 60 seasons. Additionally, there has been an overall sense that going to Alarr with an HR issue is futile, which has been reinforced by incidents like one involving a female production employee. She “was accosted, berated and yelled at,” and a male actor put his hands on her, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said. An actress saw what happened and went to Alarr, asking him to intervene. By the time Alarr got there, the actor’s hands were off the female employee. “Instead of approaching the situation with these two people involved, he chose to just walk in the other direction,” the source said about the incident. Alarr, who was praised by actors for his overall directing skills and character development work, allegedly regularly mocked HR conduct standards. According to eyewitnesses, he would chuckle after making inappropriate or offensive remarks in front of cast and crew with a jokey comment about what would happen if HR ever knew about his behavior. If Alarr was called out for saying something that was inappropriate and hurt someone’s feelings, he would dismiss the criticism, insisting it was just a joke. DoOL is produced by Corday Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television, with Corday the executive producer and Alarr co-executive producer. Alarr’s wife also works on the show. She was introduced as a writer around March when her name appeared on scripts, making a lot of the cast “really upset,” an insider said. People who have worked on DoOL had great things to say about Corday but noted that his office is in another building and he doesn’t have enough of a physical presence at the studio, so the cast and crew don’t feel they know him well enough to confide in him about production issues. Following the sale of the studio facility, “there were still checks and balances” for a while, with Corday visiting the set for special occasions and parties several times a year. “But little by little, his presence on the floor has become less and less, and really there is no one to go to,” one staffer said. That vacuum was filled by Alarr’s rise to power. Still, at least two employees went to Corday ahead of speaking to investigators and laid out the issues involving Alarr, with examples, but were asked to let the process take its course and wait for the report, a source close to the show told FilmmakerFocus. According to multiple insiders, Corday Prods. has not addressed the investigation internally and has not shared its results with staffers. That continues to be the case after DoOL returned from hiatus more than a week ago, with a portion of the employees still in the dark about the probe. Meanwhile, Alarr continues as co-executive producer and director. Overall, his presence on the set has been scaled back over the past couple of months, sources said, though it is unclear whether it is due to the investigation; the writers strike, which has shifted some of Alarr’s attention to keeping scripts being generated after a number of WGA members walked off; or some other reason. While the situation on the show after the break is described as “normal,” the disappointment and anger among those encouraged to share their experiences — and did so — remains. “Nobody should treat people like this,” one person said. “In this day and age for men to be treating women like this, to take away their voices and treat them like they don’t matter and they’re second-class citizens, is just appalling.”
