According to Page Six, Jimmy Fallon has gotten caught in a whirlwind of accusations.
He is alleged to have cultivated a “toxic” work environment.
The “Tonight Show” host reached out to his staff with an apology.
The string of allegations came from his current and former employees.
Rolling Stone reported that during a Zoom meeting, Jimmy said,
“It’s embarrassing, and I feel so bad,”
He told the staff of the NBC talk show:
“Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends… I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”
He was quoted saying his initial intent for the show’s atmosphere:
“I want the show to be fun, [it] should be inclusive to everybody. It should be the best show.”
The unsettling accusations come from two current and 14 former employees.
They explained that the working experience on the “Tonight Show” has been less than ideal for several years.
A former employee commented,
“Nobody told Jimmy, ‘No.’ Everybody walked on eggshells, especially showrunners.”
Multiple sources have underscored these claims.
They pointed out Fallon’s inconsistent mood swings as a key influencer of the overall work atmosphere.
“It was like, if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is f–ked,”
The staff continued:
“It was very much like, focus on whatever it is that you have to do because Jimmy’s in a bad mood, and if he sees that, he might fly off.”
His behavior, as alleged, has led to numerous resignations from the team.
What’s more concerning, seven employees noted their declining mental health due to the work environment.
The employee noted that jokes on self-harm became a common sentiment due to the challenging atmosphere backstage.
It was even claimed that guests’ dressing rooms became unofficial “crying rooms” for distressed staff members.
Disturbingly, one former employee explained:
“Mentally, I was in the lowest place of my life. I didn’t want to live anymore. I thought about taking my own life all the time; I knew deep down I would never actually do it, but in my head, I’m like, ‘Why do I think about this all the time?'”
Jimmy Fallon’s Previous Concerns and Defenses from the Team
Page Six had previously flagged potential concerns in 2016 regarding Jimmy’s drinking habits.
The magazine speculated on the potential impact of his drinking on the show.
NBC, however, had dismissed these concerns at the time.
Seems like Fallon and Ellen Degeneres are two peas in a pod, with how they treat their employees.
— Gabe Lozano (@GabeLozano2) September 8, 2023
Following the recent allegations, a few team members have defended Fallon.
An anonymous current employee shared with People,
“He makes a point of commending you when you do a great job and when he’s happy. And any feedback I’ve received is always I like, ‘Hey, we don’t need to do that again”. I’ve never been belittled, yelled at, or nothing like that. It’s all exactly how a boss should give feedback to an employee.”
One source claimed a shift in the work environment since Chris Miller, the new showrunner, joined last May.
The source continued,
“He’s brought a renewed enthusiasm and positive energy to the show.” One producer noted, “the atmosphere is very different.”
In light of the recent events, NBC released a statement:
“We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority. 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.”
Just hours after these allegations came to light, Fallon was sighted at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Appearing low-key, he donned sunglasses indoors, clad in a casual cardigan and black joggers.
I’m actually stunned to hear all of this. I’ve always liked him and thought he was a great guy. And I thought he was very funny on SNL.
— Colors of the wind ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@linda94861521) September 8, 2023
As of now, Fallon’s yet to make a public statement regarding the report.
