In a follow-up report to their initial story from July 25, Deadline reported Tuesday that over two dozen Days of our Lives cast members had signed the petition, which calls for a new leader on the show.
"As a result of said actions of the current [co-] executive producer Albert Alarr, mentioned in the report, many of us feel -- and will continue to feel -- very uncomfortable and distraught should he stay involved with the show. Many of us have either been physically or verbally violated by him, including witnessing those objectionable and offensive actions," the petition reads.
The petition also calls for Alarr to be replaced with another director and producer whom the cast can both "respect and trust."
"We all want to make the most of this significant moment, not just for us in entertainment, but for our loyal viewers and the culture as a whole," the actors wrote in the statement published by Deadline.
Production of the long-running Peacock soap was unexpectedly suspended last week following the initial Deadline report. Among the new allegations against the longtime executive are reports that Alarr used a homophobic slur against one actress after she had walked off stage with her male co-star.
The actress, who wasn't named on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the slur was uttered in front of several crew members and that it evoked gasps from those gathered nearby. A separate incident alleges that Alarr inappropriately inserted himself into love scenes and other intimate moments on set.
One staffer also commented on the reported lack of communication and action by the show's executive producer, Ken Corday. Corday is in charge of Corday Productions, which produces DAYS.
"It's just so disheartening. That silence is so deafening. The silence from the show, the silence from Ken," the staffer is quoted as saying.
In response to the ongoing discussion about Days of our Lives and Albert Alarr, Farah Galfond (ex-Mimi Lockhart) took to social media to recount her own experience.
“I had the particular misfortune of having Alarr direct my first ever ‘love’ scene when I was 19. He was new so I was already nervous not having one of the other directors that I was used to. I was extremely modest and freaked out to be standing in my underwear in front of dozens of crew (aka men that had known me since I was 15…ew) and did Albert do or say one little thing to make me feel remotely at ease? Absolutely not. He pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed me on a particular issue, and was annoyed when I stood my ground," Galfond wrote. "[Twenty years later] and I still feel sad about that day yet happy I set a boundary. But MAN would it have been nice to have a WOMAN direct that scene and make sure I felt protected instead of exposed. It’s been hard for me to read the news. I guess I’m shocked he learned nothing after the me too movement. Or by …hello?? The cast & crew’s appalled reactions to him on daily basis??”
Days of our Lives was slated to returned to production this week, but the show unexpectedly paused its return to production. Production is now set to resume on Monday, August 7.
To read Deadline's original report, click here.
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