Former Employee Claims Beth Stern Fired Her From Animal Rescue Role

Radio personality Howard Stern and his wife, Beth Ostrosky Stern, are the subjects of a lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging a hostile work environment. The legal action was initiated by Leslie Kuhn, who previously served as an assistant to the couple and an office manager for Stern’s radio program.

According to court documents obtained by USA Today on April 6, 2026, Kuhn filed the complaint in the New York County Supreme Court on April 5, 2026. The lawsuit names Howard Stern, Beth Stern, The Howard Stern Production Company, and One Twelve Inc. As defendants.

Employment History and Role Transition

Kuhn’s professional tenure with Howard Stern began in September 2022. She was initially hired as the office manager for The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM. In 2023, Kuhn was promoted by Stern’s production company, One Twelve Inc., to a position as a live-in assistant to both Howard and Beth Stern.

As part of this role, Kuhn moved into the couple’s 20,000-square-foot mansion located in Southampton. Her responsibilities expanded to include the management of the estate’s staff, which encompassed overseeing payroll, scheduling, and the general administration of the household.

Kuhn was tasked with managing Beth Stern’s at-home cat rescue and fostering operation. Reporting from KCRG indicates that these duties were a central component of her daily professional obligations while residing at the estate.

Allegations of Hostility and Mismanagement

The lawsuit claims that Kuhn was terminated from her position less than two years after moving into the Southampton residence. The filing attributes the termination to a hostile work environment and the enablement of those conditions.

Kuhn’s complaint specifically highlights the pressures placed on the household, which she describes as being created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site. The lawsuit further alleges that the environment was marred by massively disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices.

Dispute Over Nondisclosure Agreements

A significant portion of the legal dispute involves nondisclosure agreements (NDAs). Kuhn alleges that two such agreements, which were intended to prevent her from sharing personal details regarding the radio host, were fraudulently signed.

Kuhn fully intends to disclose details concerning the facts surrounding her employment by Stern, Beth Stern, [SiriusXM] and One Twelve and termination of that employment as necessary to address the accusations made against her and to protect her reputation and future employment prospects

Court documents via USA Today

The former assistant is seeking compensation for the alleged conditions she faced during her employment. USA Today has contacted representatives for Howard Stern for comment on the allegations, though no response has been reported.