Howard Stern’s former assistant is suing the famed radio personality and his wife for allegedly subjecting her to a hostile work environment while employed at their 20,000-square-foot Hamptons estate, according to court filings reviewed by The Independent.
In a state lawsuit filed Sunday, Leslie Kuhn, who began working for Stern in 2022 as his office manager at SiriusXM, says she was made the shock jock’s executive assistant the following year, and relocated to Southampton, New York, in 2024 – at the pair’s request – to provide “assistance with such things as managing the staff of the mansion, setting staffing schedules, completing staff payroll and managing general household operations, including Beth Stern’s extensive at-home feline rescue and fostering operations.”
Beth Stern is a longtime animal activist who rescues and fosters abandoned dogs and cats, and is the national spokesperson and board member for North Shore Animal League America.
Kuhn’s complaint says she was given a raise in December 2025 from $100,000 to $265,000, plus an $80,000 bonus, but that she was fired in February 2026 for “alleged misconduct.” But while the complaint does not provide details of the purported wrongdoing, it says Kuhn “denies in whole and in part the reasoning given to her,” calling it “manufactured by the Defendants in general and Beth Stern in particular.”
“Rather, Kuhn contends that her termination was the result of, among other things, a hostile work environment and enablement of that hostile work environment, immense pressures on the household created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site, and massively disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices,” the complaint states.
However, Kuhn claims the allegations against her are so detrimental to her reputation that they would have “a chilling effect on [her] future employment prospects.”
At the same time, Kuhn also accuses Stern’s production company of forging her signature on two non-disclosure agreements she denies ever okaying, and is asking a judge to declare them null and void because it forbids her from telling anyone, including prospective employers, her version of events while allowing Howard and Beth to “speak freely about Kuhn with impunity.”
“As such, Kuhn fully intends to disclose details concerning the facts surrounding her employment by Stern, Beth Stern, Sirius, and [Stern’s production company],” the complaint states, “and termination of that employment as necessary to address the accusations made against her and to protect her reputation and future employment prospects.”
Attorney John Leonard, who is representing Kuhn, told The Independent that he is simply asking the court to weigh in on the validity and enforceability of the two NDAs Kuhn says she never signed.
“It’s very easy to see that they are one-sided; they’re not reciprocal, so it gives one party the right to say anything they want and the other party is muzzled,” Leonard said.
Above and beyond forbidding Kuhn from discussing the ins and outs of her employment with Stern, the allegedly bogus NDA prohibits her from talking about anything about the couple’s “family members or friends, daily activities and personal habits (e.g., food preferences, sleeping habits, hobbies), use of consumer products, choice of restaurants, hotels or other establishments, entertainment preference, the location or contents of residences and other properties, travel arrangements, location(s) or methods, political affiliations,” and “any other matters” related to Stern’s business.
Such a contractual relationship would put Kuhn, who the complaint describes as “a mere at-will employee with considerably less influence and resources than the Sterns, their affiliated entities and associates,” at an unfair disadvantage “personally, professionally and publicly.”
NDAs are being used to silence people like Kuhn, who are “at distinct disadvantages in influence and resources,” according to Leonard, who pointed out that his client never wanted things to get to this point.
“The decision to seek declaratory relief from the court was a decision that was not made lightly,” Leonard told The Independent. “My client, however, is a very strong woman and she just wants the court to tell her what her rights are so she can move ahead lawfully. Not knowing whether you’re able to defend yourself against other people’s allegations is a very harrowing situation to be in. But I have to say, she’s handling it very well, she’s very strong, and she looks forward to her day in court.”
The Independent has reached out to reps for Stern for comment.
Kuhn is now seeking a declaration voiding the NDAs, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs.
