Los Angeles, California: Jimmy Fallon, renowned host of ‘The Tonight Show,’ finds himself under scrutiny as 16 former and current employees accuse him of fostering a ‘toxic work environment.’
In discussions with Rolling Stone, these individuals have alleged that Fallon’s ‘erratic’ and moody demeanor has left them feeling belittled, intimidated, and stressed. This raises questions about changes in Jimmy Fallon’s workplace conduct.
As per the report, there was a noticeable shift in Fallon’s behavior following his move from ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ to ‘The Tonight Show’ in 2014. A former staff member highlighted that this transition heightened the stress on producers, subsequently impacting their teams.
The former employee commented, “The pressure increased significantly because of this transition. You have all these NBC pages in the building who are ready, willing, and waiting to take your job.” The report also underlines Fallon’s unpredictable mood swings, with another former employee sharing, “It was as if the entire atmosphere was influenced by Jimmy’s mood. If he happened to be in a bad mood, it had a ripple effect on everyone’s day.”
These circumstances discouraged light-hearted interactions in the workplace. “It was very much like, focus on whatever it is that you have to do because Jimmy’s in a bad mood,” the source continued.
Did Jimmy Fallon’s conduct affect his employees’ mental health?
One person revealed that they were compelled to take anti-anxiety medication for the first time due to an anxiety attack experienced while working on the show. Many staffers described living in fear, with some reporting nightmares and anxiety linked to their work.
The report further asserts that Fallon’s inconsistent behavior led to a high turnover of showrunners, with nine changes in nine years. “Nobody told Jimmy, ‘No.’ Everybody walked on eggshells, especially showrunners,” the report stated. Another former employee added, “You never knew which Jimmy we were going to get and when he was going to throw a fit.”
What are ‘crying rooms’ on ‘The Tonight Show’?
Some employees shared that they were dismissed from the show, and there were rooms allegedly referred to as “crying rooms” where they could express their emotions when overwhelmed. These accounts also reveal the physical and mental toll exacted on certain staff members, leading to hair loss, nail damage, weight loss, insomnia, and crying spells as consequences of the stress.
Employees experienced ‘suicidal thoughts’ and underwent ‘therapy’ after working with Jimmy Fallon.
Four individuals claimed to be in therapy due to their experiences, while three disclosed having suicidal thoughts. “Mentally, I was in the lowest place of my life. I didn’t want to live anymore. I thought about taking my own life all the time,” one former employee disclosed.
Why were employees disappointed with Jimmy Fallon?
For some employees, working on the show was a source of disappointment, as it had initially been their dream job. “Writing late at night is a lot of people’s dream jobs, and they’re coming into this and it becomes a nightmare very quickly,” one former staffer expressed. “It’s sad that it’s like that, especially knowing that it doesn’t have to be that way,” the source added.
How did NBC respond to the accusations of a toxic environment created by Jimmy Fallon?
NBC has responded to these allegations by asserting that ‘The Tonight Show’ starring Jimmy Fallon maintains a respectful workplace, and any concerns raised by employees have been thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“As is always the case, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so that we may address them accordingly,” commented an NBC spokesperson.