The host of the popular Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, is the target of accusations of toxic behavior by about fifteen employees. Rolling Stone magazine published an investigation Thursday reporting intimidation, lack of respect, actions suggesting that Fallon was sometimes intoxicated at work and the erratic character of the star host.
“According to most employees who spoke to Rolling Stone, it is common knowledge that Fallon’s temperament, mood and treatment of his employees is erratic,” writes journalist Krystie Lee Yandoli, who penned the investigation. magazine.
The climate on the set of The Tonight Show couldn’t seem further from this description when watching the show (put on hiatus due to the writers’ strike), where good humor and humor seem to be the word. of order. Yet 16 people (14 former employees and two witnesses still working for The Tonight Show) described, on condition of anonymity, behaviors by Jimmy Fallon that allegedly created an unhealthy and highly unprofessional work environment.
Seven said they had to seek psychological help because of their time on the show’s team (the dressing rooms were renamed “crying rooms”, because that’s where they went to cry when abuse was taking place). Three others even said they had suicidal thoughts. Several employees expressed their concerns to human resources, but believe that the problems on the set of the Tonight Show persisted.
NBC, which airs the show, defended The Tonight Show in a statement, never mentioning Jimmy Fallon. “Providing a respectful work environment is a priority,” a representative wrote to Rolling Stone, which contacted 80 employees in total for its survey. Jimmy Fallon has not publicly reacted to the publication of the article.
Jimmy Fallon is known and loved for his endearing character, his candor and his charisma on screen. His show, which he took over from Jay Leno in 2014, opened with an audience of 11.3 million people. On average, each episode is seen by 3 to 4 million people, and the Tonight Show has generated many viral television moments in popular culture.
But, it seems, the host has “good days” and “bad days” behind the curtains. When he is not in a good mood or satisfied with the work of his collaborators, Jimmy Fallon forces everyone to “walk on eggshells” in his presence so as not to cause mood swings. “No one says ‘no’ to Jimmy,” a former employee told Rolling Stone. We never knew which Jimmy we were going to get and when he was going to have a seizure. Look how many showrunners have jumped ship. »
Jimmy Fallon reportedly yelled at his employees on numerous occasions. Three of them said they had been yelled at by the host in front of colleagues. Writers, tasked with writing jokes or segments for the show, received notes that attacked them personally when the host was unhappy with their work. ” Pathetic. What’s your problem ? You have surpassed yourself,” he wrote to an employee, for example, in a note that Rolling Stone was able to consult.
Jimmy Fallon, targeted in recent years by rumors that he has problems with alcohol, reportedly showed up to work drunk or with a hangover on a few occasions, according to reports.
During a segment of the Tonight Show with comedian Jerry Seinfeld, a member of the team, responsible for the host’s cheat sheets, was allegedly yelled at in the middle of filming. Seinfeld then suggested that Fallon apologize, which he did.
Jerry Seinfeld, best known for the 1990s show that bears his name, shared his version of events with Rolling Stone. “This is so stupid. I remember that moment very well… I teased Jimmy about a mistake, and we all had a good laugh about how Jimmy is usually rarely fazed. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Jimmy and I still talk about it from time to time and laugh. This is a stupid distortion of events. »
The Rolling Stone investigation also focuses on accusations made against one of the former showrunners of the Tonight Show, Jamie Granet-Bederman, who also allegedly intimidated employees. She left the show in 2022.
