"It's Embarrassing And I Feel So Bad": Jimmy Fallon Apologizes To "Tonight Show" Staff After Rolling Stone Report

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“The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon apologized to staffers on Thursday after
current and former employees told Rolling Stone that the NBC talk show has
had a toxic environment for years.

Sixteen staffers for the program — two of whom still work for the show — who
served in positions ranging from writers to production crew, said they
informed human resources about the problem.

They cited the “pretty glum atmosphere” while contending they were subject to
belittling and intimidation by their superiors, including Fallon, whom they
said had periodic “outbursts” amid erratic behavior, according to Rolling
Stone.

But following the outlet’s investigative report, Fallon joined showrunner
Chris Miller to address the employees in a Zoom call on Thursday evening.

Fallon allegedly said he did not intend to “create that type of atmosphere
for the show,” according to two employees in the meeting.

“It’s embarrassing, and I feel so bad,” the employees say Fallon said. “Sorry
if I embarrassed you and your family and friends. … I feel so bad I can’t
even tell you.”

Fallon, who has hosted “The Tonight Show,” the world’s longest-running talk
show, since 2014, reportedly added that he wants “the show to be fun” and
“inclusive to everybody.”

“It should be the best show,” he said, according to employees.

Rolling Stone interviewed over 80 past and present employees of the show,
many of whom applauded Fallon’s talent and comedy. But those who declined to
go on record only spoke negatively about working on the show.

The show has had a revolving door of showrunners, with nine different people
in nine years.

“Nobody told Jimmy, ‘No,’” a former staffer claimed. “Everybody walked on
eggshells, especially showrunners. You never knew which Jimmy we were going
to get and when he was going to throw a hissy fit. Look how many showrunners
went so quickly. We know they didn’t last long.”

“It was like, if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is f***ed,” another
former employee added. “People wouldn’t joke around in the office, and they
wouldn’t stand around and talk to each other. It was very much like, focus on
whatever it is that you have to do because Jimmy’s in a bad mood, and if he
sees that, he might fly off.”

Seven former staffers said it was typical of the atmosphere on the show for
people to joke about “wanting to kill themselves.”

After the story broke, Rolling Stone reported that Miller shared the article
with the employees on Thursday morning.

“While I know the reporter reached out to many of you before the piece ran, I
don’t believe what’s written is reflective of the overall culture of our
extraordinary team that I’m so lucky and proud to work with every day,” the
email reportedly said. “The place described in the article is not the place I
know. Still, it’s disappointing to see something published that does not
capture the positive and inclusive environment I believe we have created
together.”

NBC officials defended the show in a statement to the outlet, saying the
network is “incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful
working environment is a top priority,” a spokesperson said.

“As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues; those have been
investigated and action has been taken where appropriate,” the spokesperson
added. “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.”

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Let's go Brandon!