Jimmy Fallon addressed his staff following a Rolling Stone investigation that revealed an alleged toxic workplace environment behind the scenes at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. According to a follow-up report, the nine-year host of NBC’s tentpole late-night talk show apologized to staffers in an all-hands Zoom meeting on Thursday night, calling the situation “embarrassing.”
“Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends,” he said, per two employees on the call. “I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”
Separate reporting by Deadline added that Fallon admitted he “never set out to create that type of atmosphere at the show” and continued by saying, “I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive for everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people. I just wanted to… say I miss you guys.”
The initial report, which featured accounts from two current and 14 former staff members, detailed a “glum atmosphere” on the set of The Tonight Show particularly centered on the “erratic” behavior of its host as well as the revolving door of showrunners, for which there have been nine in nine years. Claims against Fallon involved showing up to work “inebriated” or “hungover from the night before” and giving feedback bordering on “personal insults.” Elsewhere, former showrunner Jaime Granet-Bederman was accused of “bullying and mistreating staff” including making racially insensitive comments and engaging in retaliatory “intimidation” tactics in response to HR complaints. Seven former staff members confessed that their mental health took a toll, ranging from “physical ramifications” to “suicidal ideation” while working on the show.
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On the call, Fallon offered praise for current showrunner Chris Miller, who was hired in 2022, as “a great leader” and affirmed his tenure would not be cut short like his predecessors. Sources have claimed that Miller has “improved the culture of the show” and the report’s claims are “years old.” In an email to staff on Thursday, Miller shared, “I don’t believe what is written is reflective of the overall culture of our extraordinary team… It does not capture the positive and inclusive environment that I believe we have created together.”
Meanwhile, NBC issued their own statement, saying: “We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority.” The network spokesperson shared that “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.”
The Tonight Show host most recently took part in a livestream event with The Rolling Stones to announce Hackney Diamonds, their first album 18 years. Earlier this month, he joined with four of his talk show contemporaries, including Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, to launch the limited podcast series Strike Force Force to benefit their staffers amidst the ongoing writers strike.
