NBC Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon apologizes for creating 'toxic workplace'

Jimmy Fallon said the show should be a fun workplace. Photo: AFP/ANDREW LIPOWSKI

Jimmy Fallon has apologized following the allegations he made. “toxic work environment” for NBC Tonight Show staff.

“It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, your family and friends,” Mr. Fallon told staff during a brief Zoom meeting on Thursday night, according to Variety and Rolling Stone.

“I feel so bad that I can’t even tell you.”

“I want this show to be fun, it needs to be inclusive for everyone, it needs to be fun, it needs to be the best show, the best people,” Mr. Fallon added.

This will happen after the exposure in Rolling Stone magazine, in which 16 current and former employees of the American television show accused the presenter of creating an unhealthy work environment.

Rolling Stone reported that employees for years felt humiliated, intimidated and suffering from deteriorating mental health .

Employees said they were belittled by Mr. Fallon, which affected their mental health. Photo: NBC

They said Mr. Fallon's behavior could be «erratic» and the work environment depended on whether it was «Jimmy's good day» or «Jimmy's bad day.»

They added that outbursts of anger are not uncommon.

Often guests' dressing rooms They said they were called «crying rooms.»

«Writing late into the night is a dream job for many people, and they come to her, and it very quickly becomes a nightmare,” an anonymous person told the magazine.

Since Mr. Fallon took over Tonight The Jay Leno Show in 2014 has had nine showrunners, much faster than similar shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.< /p>«Everybody walked on eggshells»

«No one said no to Jimmy. Everyone walked on eggshells, especially the showrunners,» one former employee told Rolling Stone.

“You never know what kind of Jimmy we'll get and when he throws a tantrum. Look how many showrunners have left so quickly. We know they were short-lived.»

According to Rolling Stone, any issues raised by staff remained unresolved.

In a statement, an NBC spokesperson wrote: «We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful work environment is a top priority… As with any workplace, we have had instances where employees have raised concerns; they were investigated and action was taken where necessary.”

“A really positive guy.”

Some of the show's current staffers came to Mr. Fallon's defense.

People magazine quoted one staffer. said Mr. Fallon was a “very, very positive guy.”

“He praises you when you do a great job and when he’s happy,” the anonymous employee said.

“I've never been humiliated or yelled at or anything like that.”

The ongoing writers' and actors' strike in Hollywood has resulted in the hiatus of The Tonight Show.