‘Ruthless’ Howard Stern ‘threw loyal staffers out like trash’ with ‘horrible’ severance deal and strict NDA

‘Ruthless’ Howard Stern ‘threw loyal staffers out like trash’ with ‘horrible’ severance deal and strict NDA


STAFFERS on The Howard Stern Show are furious with their multi-millionaire boss after the gut-wrenching layoffs last week, insiders have told The U.S. Sun.

The shock jock, 72, gave his loyal team members a painfully small severance and a strict NDA as he let go of a dozen employees last week.

Howard Stern’s loyal staff who were purged in the massive layoffs last week allegedly ended up with pitifully small severance packages attached to ridiculously strict NDAs, The U.S. Sun reveals Credit: Getty
Memet Walker was one of several on-air staffers who were axed after a Zoom call last week Credit: The Howard Stern Show

As The U.S. Sun exclusively reported, Stern‘s fired staffers include 27-year Stern Show vet Benjy Bronk as well as beloved talent Memet Walker, Jon Blitt and Mike Trainor.

“Everyone is grumbling about how he couldn’t figure out a way for the rest of his team to finish out the remainder of his three-year contract,” a source told The U.S. Sun exclusively.

“He’s a millionaire who got there with the help of his team, it’s incredible that these guys, who are all older, have to go and hit the pavement when they should be simply focused on retirement.”

Meanwhile, sources claimed the severance package given to these dedicated employees, some of whom worked for Stern for the entirety of his 20 years with SiriusXM, is simply shocking.

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One insider claimed employees got just a little over a week’s worth of pay for every year worked.

“You’d think Howard would have been generous with these guys, some who worked for him for decades, but nope!” the source fumed.

“Each decade of service to the show got just two months of severance, and a horrible NDA saying they’ll lose even that if they say a f***ing word.”

Typical severance in the media industry is around two weeks of pay per year of employment.

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Benjy Bronk, who was at the show for over 25 years, was another on air personality who was cut in the layoffs Credit: Instagram/sternshow
Mike Trainor confirmed his layoff on X last week, though the strict NDAs may have scared some staff into silence Credit: The Howard Stern Show

The insider added that the staffers let go after a Zoom call on July 13 were told to leave immediately.

“They were gone that day,” one stunned insider added.

The U.S. Sun reached out to reps for Stern’s show for comment.

As The U.S. Sun previously revealed, several on-air talent were axed in the layoff and the remaining employees have been “walking on eggshells.”

Producers and on-air talent alike were kicked to the curb as Stern gears up to cut back to a single new show per week, dropping down from the three days he originally promised listeners when he re-signed his three-year deal back in December.

According to one insider, “They let go of Benjy Bronk, who had been a huge figure on the show. He was there for more than 25 years.”

The same source noted that fellow on-air personality Jon Blitt was cut as well.

Another source claimed that fan favorites Memet Walker and Mike Trainor were also caught in the wave of layoffs.

Mike Trainor has thus far been the only on-air staffer of the four to confirm the news of his layoff, as the strict NDA may be stopping others from making an announcement.

The team got the bad news during a brutal Zoom meeting, where they learned their star host is scaling back his schedule after his return from summer break in September.

The radio legend revealed his new SiriusXM deal back in December 2025, right before his old contract was about to run out, even admitting on air earlier that week he wasn’t positive he was going to re-sign.

When making the announcement, he told his audience the new setup would offer him “More free time, and continue to be on the radio.”

His fresh 2026 routine was slated to bring live shows every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Eastern, but just weeks into the new arrangement, Stern ended up missing two of his scheduled broadcasts.

After Stern failed to show up on February 2, listeners saw the writing on the wall and figured major layoffs were right around the corner.

Over on Reddit, one frustrated fan quipped, “He needs a rest, he worked two days last week.”

“How can Sirius justify paying for this mess along with the 90 people on staff,” another listener chimed in.

A third user called it, writing, “I’m sure they’re going to start cutting back the 90 staff. What do all those people get paid?”

As The U.S. Sun originally reported, the Howard Stern Show appears to be on its last legs.

Way back in August 2025, insiders were saying Stern and Sirius execs were unlikely to reach a deal on his $100 million annual contract, expecting the long-running show to finally get pulled.

Even though the he ultimately re-upped with the platform, this heavily trimmed schedule makes it clear Sirius isn’t handing him that kind of crazy money anymore.

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