He’s sorry.
Jimmy Fallon is claimed to have offered an apology to “Tonight Show” staffers for his reported workplace behavior during a Thursday night video call. An attendee of the all-hands meeting characterised the funnyman’s mea culpa as “pretty earnest.”
The news comes after Rolling Stone published a story during which 16 current and former employees accused the late night talk show host, 48, of being “erratic,” drunk at work and making a “toxic work environment.”
Fallon reportedly told staffers that he didn’t intend to “create that sort of atmosphere for the show,” two employees claimed to the rock bible in a follow-up report.
“It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad,” Fallon allegedly said. “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your loved ones and friends … I feel so bad I can’t even let you know.”
Reps for NBC and Fallon didn’t reply to requests for comment.
Nonetheless, an insider with knowledge of the situation suggested the report is the results of a staff leak.
A source near the show told The Post earlier Thursday that the work environment has significantly shifted over time since recent showrunner Chris Miller joined last May.
“He’s brought a renewed enthusiasm and positive energy to the show. Chris prides himself on being available to the staff and a transparent leader. He’s exactly what the show needed.”
Fallon also apparently acknowledged the quantity of turnover “The Tonight Show” has had in regard to its showrunners, but emphasized that Miller is “an incredible leader” and is there to remain.
“I would like the show to be fun, [it] ought to be inclusive to everybody,” Fallon said, based on the staff. “It ought to be the perfect show.”
Within the follow-up story, Rolling Stone claimed that Miller sent out an email to employees to debate the matter.
“I desired to make you all aware of a web based story that just hit on rollingstone.com that features past allegations of inappropriate behavior on the show,” Miller allegedly wrote in the e-mail.
“While I do know the reporter reached out to a lot of you before the piece ran, I don’t imagine what’s written is reflective of the general culture of our extraordinary team that I’m so lucky and proud to work with day by day. The place described within the article is just not the place I do know.
He apparently added, “Still, it’s disappointing to see something published that doesn’t capture the positive and inclusive environment I think we’ve got created together.”
Miller also allegedly “encouraged employees to lift any concerns they might need with him, their managers, or HR,” based on Rolling Stone.
NBC told The Post in an announcement, “We’re incredibly pleased with ‘The Tonight Show,’ and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority. As in any workplace, we’ve got had employees raise issues; those have been investigated and motion has been taken where appropriate. As is all the time the case, we encourage employees who feel they’ve experienced or observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns in order that we may address them accordingly.”
The Post has previously reported about Fallon’s drinking and partying getting “out of hand” in 2015, and a bartender who served him commented, “He’s a large number.”
Page Six reported in October 2016 that top-ranking NBC execs had warned Fallon to reduce on the alcohol in fear that “he was uncontrolled and something could occur while he’s out drinking.”
Rolling Stone claimed in its follow-up report that their journalists contacted greater than 80 past and present “Tonight Show” employees when writing the tell-all.
“While a lot of them praised Fallon’s immense talent and comedic gifts, not a single one agreed to talk on the record or had positive things to say about working on ‘The Tonight Show,’” the magazine claimed.
Fallon’s alleged apology comes after Jerry Seinfeld shot back at Rolling Stone’s original report, which included the retelling of an “uncomfortable” incident during which Fallon allegedly publicly “scolded” a crew member who flubbed a walk in the park while taping a segment with the sitcom legend.
Rolling Stone claimed Seinfeld’s reps didn’t reply to multiple requests for comment, but once the story was published, Seinfeld sent them the next statement:
“That is so silly. I remember this moment quite well … I teased Jimmy a few flub, and all of us had a fun laugh about how rarely Jimmy is thrown off. It was not uncomfortable in any respect. Jimmy and I still occasionally recollect it and laugh. Idiotic twisting of events.”
A source with knowledge of “The Tonight Show” also told The Post on Thursday that Rolling Stone’s version of the Seinfeld story is inaccurate.
