Jimmy Fallon Accused Of Being A "Toxic" Boss On Set

Is it over for America's beloved late-night host? The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has gained momentum since its launch in 2014. The series' YouTube Channel, @fallontonight, boasts 31.2 million subscribers and has garnered over 17.2 billion views. Thanks to Fallon's welcoming persona, entertaining games, and sketches with A-listers, the show has received a loyal viewership for years. 

Former Employees Describe the “Toxic” Environment 

Rolling Stone has yet again released another "hit piece," this time detailing the allegedly “toxic” work environment on the set of the Tonight Show and Fallon’s alleged “outbursts.” According to current and former employees, the set has been a difficult workplace for years, with many attributing the "toxicity" to Fallon's "erratic" behavior. They add that Fallon had acted "dismissive" and “confused” during production meetings and rehearsals. Employees who spoke to the outlet discussed Fallon's mood swings, describing their time at work as "good Jimmy days" or "bad Jimmy days."

During a rehearsal in 2017, someone noticed that the host seemed perplexed. Fallon reportedly crossed out jokes on a sheet of paper he was holding, briefly engaged with the audience, then glanced back down at the same piece of paper, looking confused. “He couldn’t remember he had just crossed it out himself,” the source claims. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, he [seems] drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. This could be awful – this could be the end of the show right here.’” 

The hostile work culture allegedly extended beyond Fallon's behavior, with allegations of belittlement and intimidation by other bosses. “They are the worst bosses I’ve ever had in my life. They use that position of power to bully and treat the staff that way, and the network is aware of how they treat people,” one former employee claims. “They not only continue to enable it, but they reward it.” Despite their warnings to HR, the problems persisted. 

Seven individuals who used to work with the show say their mental health was negatively affected by their purported experiences with Fallon and their bosses. It was apparently not unheard of for staff members to joke about "wanting to kill themselves" and would refer to guests' dressing rooms in the office as "crying rooms," where they'd often escape and let out their frustrations from the mistreatment. 

Rolling Stone also touched on a controversy involving Jimmy Fallon performing in blackface during an SNL skit in 2000 (similar to what Jimmy Kimmel did years ago). The website claims they reached out to 50 people, but none had anything positive to say about working on the show. Fallon apologized to his employees during a Zoom call following the publication, according to RS. “It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad,” Fallon reportedly said. “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends… I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.” 

However, maybe we should take Rolling Stone's reporting with a grain of salt. They pretty much sensationalize all of their "hit pieces," which we have first-hand experience with. I'm not knocking the employees' accounts on set, but I am saying that the magazine seems heavily reliant on these types of pieces for clicks and engagement and may even exaggerate certain claims. Additionally, Rolling Stone was sued for defamation when they made claims regarding a purported gang rape on a college campus.

And let's also not forget how they tried to cover up for James Gordon Meek, an investigative journalist who pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. Just as we wouldn't trust someone who supports an abuser, maybe we shouldn't extend our trust to any media outlet taking a similar stance.

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