Jimmy Fallon may be one of TV’s funnymen… But his reputation is on the line after he’s facing some pretty intense claims about how he treats his employees on ‘The Tonight Show’.
Most of us would know Fallon as a person who projects an unwavering sense of positivity, especially when he engages in humorous conversations with his famous guests.
Though, according to a recent report by Rolling Stone, this might all just be a façade.
The damning report accuses Fallon of creating a toxic workplace environment since starting his stint there in 2014, and includes claims from two current staff members, as well as a whopping 14 former employees. All have chosen to remain anonymous amid the ongoing scandal.
Among their claims are accusations of intimidation and belittlement by their superiors, including Fallon himself. They have also said that their complaints to HR went unaddressed, and that their toxic work environment has taken a significant toll on their mental health.
The report shifts the blame to Fallon himself for the troubling work culture, arguing that it was “far outside the boundaries of what’s considered normal in the high-pressure world of late-night TV.” Sources interviewed in the article painted a bleak picture of Fallon, saying he was irritable and unpredictable, and often had outbursts during which he would humiliate members of staff.
In fact, it was this behaviour that the report says drove people to quit, with there having been six teams of nine show runners since the show began nine years ago.
Two of the anonymous employees have claimed that Fallon’s behavior was due to alcoholism, with the comedian reportedly showing up intoxicated to a rehearsal in 2017, and smelling distinctly of alcohol in both 2019 and 2020.
Rolling Stone also details claims of further unprofessional behavior, which included Fallon writing insults to staff in feedback notes and sending aggressive emails.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that Fallon has faced serious allegations. In fact, he was a defendant in a sexual misconduct lawsuit alongside his former ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) co-star, Horatio Sanz.
The plaintiff accused Sanz of grooming and sexually assaulting her, and also alleged that Fallon enabled this behavior. Fallon was specifically accused of inviting the plaintiff to ‘SNL’ afterparties as a teenager, where he would consume alcohol with her and Sanz.
Like other late-night TV programs, ‘The Tonight Show,’ is on hiatus due to the WGA strike that commenced in May. Two years ago, the show was renewed, with Fallon continuing as the host until at least 2026.
