The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon says he feels bad about stories emerging of a toxic workplace behind the scenes.
The guy who broke up many a Saturday Night Live skit with his own laughter may not be smiling for too long, as The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon has found himself the target of a series of potentially devastating allegations involving workplace toxicity and misbehavior. Soon after Rolling Stone published a lengthy piece detailing more than a dozen accusers’ stories, Jimmy Fallon hosted a Zoom call with employees to express his remorse.
According to Variety, Jimmy Fallon told an undisclosed number of The Tonight Show workers, “It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends…I feel so bad I can’t even tell you…I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive for everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people.” A spokesperson added to this: “As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues; those have been investigated and action has been taken where appropriate.” With Fallon now the co-host of a limited podcast with other late night talk show hosts, one may wonder if he can avoid the topic, even though it’s meant to track the WGA strike.
In the Rolling Stone piece “Chaos, Comedy and ‘Crying Rooms’”, Jimmy Fallon is accused of being intoxicated at the studio, erratic mood swings and more. Employees would even ensure that they all knew if Fallon was in a bad mood in an act of solidarity. Some even claimed to have left the show – widely considered, at least before stories like these emerged, to be a dream job within the industry – due to mental health concerns. The stories revolving around Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show call to mind Ellen DeGeneres ending her namesake daytime talk show after accusations emerged involving a toxic workplace environment. She would cite a lack of challenge for a key reason.
Jimmy Fallon took over The Tonight Show in 2014. As of publication, he has over 1,800 episodes in his tenure.
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