Summary
- Former staffers of The Tonight Show claim that Jimmy Fallon created a toxic work environment, with dark jokes about wanting to end their lives and emotional distress in the dressing rooms.
- Fallon's mood reportedly had a significant impact on the entire team, with some describing their experience as a "nightmare."
- While Fallon has apologized for the accusations, NBC has not commented on his specific role and whether they will investigate the claims.
Jimmy Fallon has addressed the recent accusations of a toxic workplace on his Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Individuals who were interviewed for a Rolling Stone report released on Thursday, September 7, asserted that the 48-year-old Fallon, who has been the show's host since 2014, is reputed for experiencing "outbursts" and demonstrating erratic behavior backstage.
Jimmy Has Been Accused Of Creating A “Horrible Environment” For Staff
Former staff members report that it was not uncommon to hear their coworkers making dark jokes about wanting to end their lives due to the unhealthy work atmosphere.
These employees also asserted that they humorously referred to the dressing rooms for guests as "crying rooms" because they were often used as spaces to release pent-up emotions.
“It’s a bummer because it was my dream job,” one former staffer told the outlet, though they remained anonymous. “Writing for late night [television] is a lot of people’s dream jobs, and they’re coming into this and it becomes a nightmare very quickly. It’s sad that it’s like that, especially knowing that it doesn’t have to be that way.”
“It was like, if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is f—ked,” a different employee said.
“Sometimes we would get nice Jimmy, but that sometimes was not a lot. It was just really, really sad to me that this really talented man created such a horrible environment for the people there,” another staffer added.
The new allegations have gotten Jimmy comparisons to Ellen DeGeneres, who faces similar allegations of inappropriate workplace culture and behavior, before her show eventually went off the air in 2021 amid her tarnished reputation.
Jimmy Says He Feels “Embarrassed” By the Accusations And Apologized
Jimmy has reportedly spoken out since the Rolling Stone article debuted, and though he didn’t confirm the accusations, he did apologize.
Rolling Stone claims the host called his employees via Zoom to address the article and offer an apology. “It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad,” the host reportedly said. “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends … I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”
NBC – the network that produces The Tonight Show – has released a statement addressing the allegations but hasn’t commented directly on Fallon’s role in the toxic workplace. NBC also didn’t confirm if it’s launching an investigation to confirm the validity of the claims.
“We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority,” an NBC representative said. “As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues; those have been investigated and action has been taken where appropriate.”
“As is always the case, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so that we may address them accordingly,” it continued.
