Jimmy Fallon reportedly apologized to staff on The Tonight Show after Rolling Stone published allegations from current and former employees alleging a toxic work environment behind the scenes of his late-night show.
“It’s embarrassing and I feel really bad. I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you and your family and friends,” Fallon told the Tonight Show staff during a brief Zoom meeting Thursday evening. Variety said And Rolling Stone. “I feel so bad, I can’t tell you.
“This show has to be fun, it’s got to be inclusive, it’s got to be fun, it’s got to be a great show, it’s got to be great people,” Fallon was quoted as saying by both outlets.
Earlier Thursday, Rolling Stone published the allegations Two current and 14 former employees, including production crew and writers, spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Rolling Stone said they reached out to an additional 80 current and former employees, but “not a single one agreed to speak on the record or had positive things to say about working on The Tonight Show”.
According to a report by Rolling Stone, multiple sources said Fallon has a history of “outbursts” and lashing out at employees under pressure; Previous senior staff in the program bullied and belittled them; And guests’ dressing rooms are commonly called “cry rooms” where employees can vent their stress.
Nine showrunners have worked on The Tonight Show since Fallon took over from Jay Leno in 2014; Faster revenue than comparable late night shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
“Nobody said ‘no’ to Jimmy. Everyone was walking on eggshells, especially the showrunners,” a former employee told Rolling Stone. “You never know which Jimmy we’re going to get and when he’s going to throw a hissy fit. Look how many showrunners left so soon. We know they didn’t last long.
“Jimmy seemed to make everyone’s day if he was in a bad mood,” said another former employee. “People don’t joke around in the office, they don’t stand around and talk to each other. Jimmy’s in a bad mood, so you focus on what you have to do, and if you look at it, it’s like he might fly off.
Fallon’s representatives declined to comment to Rolling Stone about his behavior. An NBC spokesperson told the magazine: “As in any workplace, employees have raised issues; They have been investigated and action taken where appropriate. As always, we encourage employees who experience or feel they have observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns.
Tonight’s show has been suspended due to the ongoing writers and actors strike in Hollywood. Fallon and his fellow late-night show hosts Colbert, Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel and John Oliver have started a group podcast to raise money to support their employees as the strikes continue.
Representatives for Fallon and NBC have been contacted by the Guardian for comment.
