Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon apologized to his staff on Thursday after being accused by 16 of the show’s current and former employees of creating a “toxic’ work environment.
The embattled host, who was later seen arriving at JFK Airport on Thursday, received a Zoom call Thursday night with his staff begging for forgiveness.
“I feel so bad I can’t even tell you,” Fallon told employees Rolling stonewho told the story of Fallon’s “erratic” behind-the-scenes behavior, citing two people in the meeting.
The staffers claim that Fallon’s words “felt pretty serious” when he apologized.
“It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad,” Fallon is said to have said. “Sorry if I’ve embarrassed you and your family and friends…I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”
“I want the show to be fun, inclusive for everyone,” Fallon is said to have added. “It should be the best show.”
Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon apologized to his staff on Thursday after being accused of creating a “toxic” work environment by 16 current and former employees of the show
Former and current employees say the star’s “hissing fits” forced them to sob in “crying rooms,” let their hair fall out and trigger suicidal thoughts.
They claim Fallon’s inconsistent behavior, including “outbursts” toward employees, is the starting point for a “pretty gloomy vibe.”
While the talk show host is known for his hilarious on-screen anecdotes featuring a series of games, challenges and tidbits that garner millions of views online every week, Fallon has been rumored to have unexpected mood swings.
“It was like if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is ruined,” a former employee recalled Rolling stone.
“People weren’t joking in the office, and they weren’t talking to each other. It was a lot like, concentrate on whatever you have to do, because Jimmy’s in a bad mood, and if he sees that, he might fly off.”
His inconsistent and snappy attitude is said to seep down the hierarchy of the program, which has seen nine showrunners in nine years.
“I just don’t think they’ve found a leader who can hold things together,” a former employee told Rolling Stone.
None of the nine showrunners chose to speak about the show in a negative — or positive — light.
The 48-year-old sported a casual look in jeans and a white T-shirt with a beige cardigan over it
Fallon was seen in London on September 6, just days before the allegations came to light
A Rolling Stone investigation by Krystie Lee Yandoli exposed the claims against Fallon and The Tonight Show
The talk show host is known for his hilarious on-screen anecdotes, but behind the scenes, concerns have been raised about Fallon’s “erratic” behavior at work
The publication approached more than 50 current and former Tonight Show employees for the story. While many praised Fallon for his ability to crack a joke, no one raised their hand to say anything official or had anything good to say about the work environment. The sixteen who did speak up, under the condition of anonymity, worked in a range of different roles, from production crews to the writers’ room.
But a source close to the Tonight Show told DailyMail.com, “The things reported in this article happened years ago and just don’t reflect the mood of today.
“No one denies that things happened in the past, but all the previous issues have been resolved and everyone has moved on since then.
Many of these are old anecdotes that have already been told and it is unclear to anyone why they are brought up again years later.
“So many current employees have positive things to say about the show, but don’t get a chance.
“This is not who Jimmy is and in no way is this what the show is like today.”
Among the allegations, a former employee said the environment changed during the transition from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to The Tonight Show.
“The producers felt this pressure and that translated to all of their employees. People who worked under them then felt the pressure that if you made one mistake you were gone and easily replaced,” said a former employee.
“You have all these NBC pages in the building ready, willing and waiting to take your job.”
Many of the staffers said they left the show due to mental health issues, with seven saying their overall well-being was affected by their alleged experiences.
Others said they were fired from the show, with guest rooms reportedly dubbed “crying rooms” to express their emotions when it all got too much.
“Nobody said to Jimmy, ‘No.’ Everyone walked on eggshells, especially showrunners,” another former employee claimed.
Fallon seems totally fascinated with the guests who appear on the show (Photo: actress Keke Palmer)
“You never knew which Jimmy we’d get and when he’d have a hissing fit. Look how many showrunners went so fast. We know they didn’t last long.’
Many of the staffers who have spoken out have described living in fear while working on the talk show, and some said they had nightmares or anxiety related to their jobs.
Someone says he was first put on anxiety medication after having an anxiety attack while working on the show.
Another says their hair thinned and their nail beds weakened as a physical response to the stress, while someone else lost nearly 20 pounds and cried themselves to sleep every night.
“I know other people in (my) department who were also dissatisfied with the (mis)treatment, but it was never something where any of us had the authority to speak up,” the employee said.
“It always felt like, ‘You should be thankful you have a job, and you should be thankful you have this position on this show, on this network.’ Everyone wants to be in this place. You’ve worked hard to get here – it shouldn’t be something you’re ungrateful to.”
Four people claim to be in therapy as a result of their experiences, while three revealed to have suicidal thoughts.
“Mentally I was in the lowest place of my life. I didn’t want to live anymore. I thought about committing suicide all the time,” a former employee described.
“I knew deep down I would never do it, but in my head I thought, ‘Why am I thinking about this all the time?’
A former employee said the ordeal of working for the show is “a bummer” because it was their “dream job.”
“Late-night writing is many people’s dream job, and when they get into it, it quickly becomes a nightmare.
“It’s sad that it is, especially knowing it doesn’t have to be.”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is known for its popular segments and challenges
Concerns have been raised about Fallon’s behavior before. In 2015, the New York Post ran a story citing sources claiming that NBC feared his drinking had become “excessive.”
However, he refuted the claims in a 2017 interview with the New York Times, saying, “I could never do a day job if I drank every night. That’s just a kick when you’re down.’
Still, two employees claim to have seen him intoxicated at work that same year. Another two workers thought they smelled alcohol on his breath when he entered an elevator with them during the day on several occasions in 2019 and 2020.
Eight other employees claimed that his energy and attitude were due to him being hungover.
While The Tonight Show, produced by Universal Television, Broadway Video and Electric Hot Dog – Fallon’s production company, is currently on hold due to the writers’ strike, it was extended by NBC until 2026.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, an NBC spokesperson said The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is no different than anywhere else.
“We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show and providing a respectful work environment is a top priority,” the spokesperson said.
“As in any workplace, we had employees raise issues; these have been investigated and measures have been taken where necessary.
“As always, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behavior that violates our policies to report their concerns so that we can address them accordingly.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to NBC and Fallon representatives for additional comment.