Jimmy Fallon has reportedly apologized to "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" staff after Rolling Stone published an article in which current and former employees filed allegations of a toxic work environment.
During a Zoom chat with "The Tonight Show" staff held after the article was published, Fallon reportedly said he had no intention of "creating that kind of vibe."
"It's embarrassing and I feel really bad," he said. “I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, your family and your friends… I feel so bad I can't tell you. I want this show to be fun, it has to be inclusive, it has to be raunchy, it has to be the best show, the best people."
Earlier Thursday, Rolling Stone published allegations from two current employees and 14 former employees, including the production team and writers, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation.
According to Rolling Stone's report, multiple sources claimed Fallon had a history of "outbursts" and attacks on staff when under pressure; and that guest locker rooms were commonly known as "cry rooms" where employees could vent their stress.
"You never knew which Jimmy you were dealing with," someone said. "If Jimmy wasn't in the mood, everyone had a bad day. People wouldn't joke around in the office and stand around and talk to each other."
Fallon's representatives declined to comment to Rolling Stone. An NBC spokesperson said:
"As in any workplace, we have had employees who have raised some issues; they are investigated and action taken as appropriate. As always, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so we can address them accordingly."
