Howard Stern Sued By Former Assistant, ‘Bizarre Rules’ For Staff Revealed In Wrongful Termination Lawsuit

Long‑time radio personality Howard Stern and his wife, Beth Stern, are facing a wrongful termination lawsuit filed in the New York Supreme Court by their former executive assistant, Leslie Kuhn, who has accused the couple of creating a hostile work environment and imposing unusually strict rules on household staff. The suit centres on Kuhn’s claims that she was hired in May 2024 to manage operations at the Sterns’ 20,000‑square‑foot Southampton, New York mansion including oversight of Beth Stern’s large‑scale feline rescue and fostering efforts but was fired in February 2026 despite assurances of a significant raise and bonus. In court documents, Kuhn alleges that she was presented with highly restrictive non‑disclosure agreements (NDAs) that forbade discussion of both the Sterns’ personal habits and business affairs, including “daily activities and personal preferences” such as food choices, sleeping patterns and travel plans conditions she describes as “bizarre” and unfair.

Kuhn claims the NDAs were never formally signed and that they were designed to silence her while imposing no similar restrictions on the Sterns, leading her to seek a court order declaring the agreements unenforceable. She also alleges that chaotic household operations and disorganised practices, particularly related to the animal rescue programme, contributed to a hostile working environment that ultimately led to her dismissal despite a promised salary increase to $265,000 and an $80,000 bonus in 2026. Filed over the weekend in New York, the complaint contends that the Sterns and their affiliated entities created an untenable workplace that prevented Kuhn from performing her duties without undue pressure and unreasonable demands.

The plaintiff is seeking legal relief to invalidate the NDA and compensate her for wrongful termination, arguing that the agreement fundamentally favoured the Sterns and deprived her of a fair employment relationship. As of publication, representatives for Howard and Beth Stern had not responded publicly to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit or the allegations contained in the court filing. Page Six noted that the Sterns declined to comment when approached. Beth Stern, a prominent animal activist and national spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League America, is well‑known for her involvement in feline rescue and fostering, having helped rescue and rehome thousands of cats over the years. The lawsuit has drawn attention within entertainment circles for its unusual claims about restrictive staff policies and the legal boundaries of NDAs in personal household employment particularly when combined with celebrity influence and high‑profile philanthropic endeavours.