TV host reportedly said ‘it’s embarrassing and I feel so bad’ after former and current employees alleged they were fearful of his moods on set

Earlier on Thursday, Rolling Stone published allegations from two current and 14 former employees, including production crew and writers, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation. Rolling Stone claimed they had approached an additional 80 current and former employees, but “not a single one agreed to speak on the record or had positive things to say about working on the Tonight Show”.

According to Rolling Stone’s report, multiple sources alleged Fallon had a history of “outbursts” and lashing out at staff when under pressure; that previous senior staff on the show had bullied and belittled them; and that guests’ dressing rooms were commonly known as “cry rooms”, where employees could go let out their stress.

Nine showrunners have worked on the Tonight Show since Fallon took over from Jay Leno in 2014; a much faster turnover than comparable late night shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

    • ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      2 years ago

      The Graham Norton show is actually pretty entertaining as late-night talk shows go. Graham seems like a good dude, the guests can actually talk to each other after pitching their bullshit, and they drink onstage so they don’t have to pound booze and drugs in the green room beforehand.

      • spirinolas@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 years ago

        Conan was awesome and I thought it couldn’t get any better. But then came Craig and he was in a league of his own. He reinvented the genre and nobody was able to copy him since.

        It was a privilege to have lived through and watch both of them in their prime.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 years ago

        I haven’t even seen him since he left his show. What is he even doing now? Just enjoying retirement? I mean he deserves it, but I miss him too.

  • BedInspector@lemmy.world
    381·
    2 years ago

    I feel vindicated for strongly disliking him since SNL. Deuche bag ruined every single skit he was in. Absolute amateur laughing in every skit. Every time.

  • the_q@lemmy.world
    281·
    2 years ago

    I’m to the point where I just assume if you’re a celebrity you’re probably a piece of shit.

  • lapbar@lemmy.world
    19·
    2 years ago

    This is hilarious if you’ve ever worked in Hollywood: An NBC spokesperson told the magazine: “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 behaviour inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so that we may address them accordingly.”

    • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
      20·
      2 years ago

      report their concerns so that we may address them accordingly

      Which means they will fire that person and make sure they never work in the industry again. That sounds like a cliche you hear in movies, but if you know people who work in Hollywood you know that it’s a real thing.

    • Saneless@lemmy.world
      9·
      2 years ago

      And we always tell them, you can be honest. Don’t worry, we won’t “retaliate”

      But why the quotes?

      Oh, just for emphasis that we absolutely will “not retaliate or fire you immediately and spread rumors about you”

  • rustyfish@lemmy.worldEnglish
    171·
    2 years ago

    Fallon is one of the least funny people on the planet. I am not joking. His shit keeps getting brought up on my YouTube feed and it is just utter crap.

    The only time I had to laugh at something he was involved in, was when he made a crossover with John Oliver. Fallon obviously tried to advertise for Amazons Alexa, when Oliver suddenly asked Alexa about the working conditions in Amazon Warehouses. Fallon immediately shit himself.

  • reddig33@lemmy.worldEnglish
    151·
    2 years ago

    It’s suspicious that this has gone on for years, but the story is only being published now. Seems to have been common knowledge in Hollywood. Is it contract negotiation time? Did Fallon finally piss of the wrong person? Does NBC have someone already in mind to replace him?

  • pwalshj@lemmy.world
    7·
    2 years ago

    He cancelled a Norm MacDonald appearance on his show for saying that he put Rosanne Barr and Louie C.K. in touch because of their shared experience. Like, a therapy thing. Jimmy claimed that a female his staff cried and locked herself in an office b/c of that. At least we know what room it was and what they were really crying about.

  • rouxdoo@lemmy.world
    53·
    2 years ago

    My only concern about all of this is that Fallon’s Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor is the best one! I can also groove on Colbert’s but Fallon’s is the best. Don’t cancel Fallon’s ice cream please!