In recent days, allegations of a toxic workplace environment on “The Tonight Show” hosted by Jimmy Fallon have come to the forefront, shedding light on a troubling atmosphere behind the scenes. Rolling Stone published an extensive article featuring testimonies from 14 former and 2 current employees, revealing disturbing claims about the work environment.
The allegations suggest that there was an “ugly environment” behind the scenes, with many staffers attributing this toxicity to Jimmy Fallon’s erratic behavior. Staff members reportedly endured unpredictable mood swings from the host, referring to “good Jimmy days” and “bad Jimmy days.” On the occasions when Jimmy was in a bad mood, those around him would reportedly be on edge, fearing his outbursts. Former employees stated that it became a common practice to walk on eggshells around him.
One former employee claimed that nobody dared to say “no” to Jimmy Fallon, and it was impossible to predict which version of him would show up on any given day. The high turnover of showrunners also suggests that they did not last long in this challenging environment.
The toxic atmosphere allegedly had a chilling effect on the workplace. Another former employee stated that when Jimmy was in a bad mood, people refrained from joking around or engaging in casual conversations. It was a tense atmosphere where everyone focused on their tasks to avoid triggering the host’s ire.
At the time of the initial report, Jimmy Fallon’s spokesperson did not comment on the allegations, while NBC issued a statement affirming their commitment to providing a respectful working environment.
Subsequently, Rolling Stone published a follow-up report revealing that Jimmy Fallon personally apologized to his staff via a Zoom call on the same day the initial investigation was released. In this apology, he expressed regret and assured his employees that he did not intend to foster such an atmosphere on the show.
Despite his apology, discussions about Jimmy Fallon’s alleged behavior continue to dominate online conversations, with fans uncovering cringe-worthy interactions from the show.
In addition to these allegations, an excerpt from Tina Fey’s 2011 memoir, “Bossypants,” has resurfaced. The passage recalls an incident during the early years of Tina’s tenure at “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) when Jimmy Fallon was also a cast member. In this incident, Tina remembers Jimmy’s reaction to a vulgar joke by Amy Poehler during a writers’ room read-through.
Jimmy Fallon reportedly scolded Amy in front of the room, expressing his disapproval of her humor. Amy responded firmly, asserting her independence and determination to do what she wanted on the show. Tina clarified that this incident did not lead to any lasting feud between Jimmy and Amy, as they remained good friends.
Jimmy Fallon has been the host of “The Tonight Show” since 2014, taking over from Jay Leno. The recent allegations and resurfaced stories have sparked a conversation about the workplace culture on the show and the behavior of its host.