Jimmy Fallon 'apologises' to Tonight Show staff amid 'toxic environment' claims
Jimmy Fallon has been forced to apologise for "embarrassing" his staff after The Tonight Show was hit with "toxic environment" claims.
According to two current and 14 former employees, the iconic show has been a toxic place to work for years. The staffers have alleged Jimmy had "erratic behaviour" on the show and said there were ever-changing leadership teams, as well as a new show runner every year for the past nine years.
Several of the former staff members have said their mental health was impacted by working on The Tonight Show. Now, Jimmy has allegedly spoken out during a Zoom call with employees.
The 48-year-old said: "It's embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends."
Jimmy Fallon has reportedly apologised to staff (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)According to Rolling Stone Magazine, who published the original report accusing The Tonight Show, Jimmy added: "I feel so bad I can't even tell you." He also acknowledged the high staff turnover and emphasised that the current showrunner Chris Miller is a "great leader" who isn't leaving anytime soon.
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Jimmy continued: "I want the show to be fun, [it] should be inclusive to everybody. It should be the best show." The Mirror has approached Jimmy's representatives for comment.
Seven former staffers told Rolling Stone that their mental health was impacted by working on the show, with some revealing people would refer to to guests' dressing rooms as "crying rooms". Many reportedly flocked to them to let out their emotions.
The Tonight Show has been hit with a number of allegations (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)The staff members all worked in a wide range of different positions, from the production crew to the writers' room. One former staff member even gushed over how their job was their "dream job" but noted how it became a "nightmare very quickly". Many of the staff revealed that they left the show on their own accord due to poor mental health, while some others allege being fired.
One former member of staff said Jimmy was "erratic" on set. They said it was "really sad" that he created a "horrible environment for the people there".
Despite this, NBC defended the show in a statement shared with the publication. It read: "We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority.
"As in any workplace, 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."
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