Jimmy Fallon, known for his charismatic and comical persona on NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,’ is now dealing with a tarnished reputation due to allegations of maltreatment from several anonymous employees who have spoken out about their experiences on set.
Fallon’s journey into the realm of late-night talk programs began in 2009 when he transitioned from ‘Saturday Night Live’ to host ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.’
Allegations of Toxic Workplace at Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show
In 2014, he succeeded Jay Leno as presenter of ‘The Tonight Show,’ and his rise continued.
However, recent revelations from fourteen former and two current employees paint a distinct picture of the show’s atmosphere.
According to Rolling Stone, these individuals have described ‘The Tonight Show’ as a ‘toxic workplace’ for many years.
There are allegations of a high-pressure environment and ‘erratic’ behavior from the presenter.
In the past nine years, the show has undergone nine showrunner changes, and employees who spoke to Rolling Stone allege they have worked in a ‘pretty gloomy environment’ marked by intimidation from their superiors, including Jimmy Fallon.
Surprisingly, seven individuals who shared their experiences claimed that their mental health suffered due to the alleged working conditions.
Some even referred to the guest dressing rooms as ‘crying rooms’ because that is where they sought refuge from the suspected maltreatment.
Former employees revealed that they resigned from the show to safeguard their mental health or were terminated due to these allegations.
The investigative report of Rolling Stone included email evidence of Fallon belittling staff, as well as photographs depicting severe evaluations of employees’ work.
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‘Tonight Show’ Incident Sparks Workplace Culture Concerns
Moreover, according to two employees, Fallon allegedly ‘reprimanded’ a crew member managing cue cards during an interview with fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
As a result of Seinfeld’s intervention, Fallon apologized to the crew member. This incident was never broadcast, however.
Rolling Stone contacted over 50 current and former employees of ‘The Tonight Show,’ after Fallon and NBC were informed of the investigation, 30 employees were contacted.
Notably, the showrunners in 2014 were absent from the article.
A spokesperson for NBC defended ‘The Tonight Show,’ emphasizing the network’s commitment to a respectful work environment although the report does not explicitly address Fallon.
The spokesperson stated that employee concerns had been investigated and appropriate action taken.
NBC encourages its employees to disclose any policy-violating behavior.
This report’s potential repercussions resemble the difficulties Ellen DeGeneres encountered in 2020 when her talk show was criticized for a poisonous work environment behind the scenes.
DeGeneres addressed the allegations on her show and ultimately ended her long-running program in May 2022 after 19 seasons, after addressing the claims.
Now, Fallon’s reputation as a beloved comedian is under intense scrutiny, which raises concerns about the future of ‘The Tonight Show’ and its host’s stature in the entertainment industry.
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