Jimmy Fallon staffers allege ‘nightmare’ workplace: ‘I didn’t want to live’
Jimmy Fallon’s employees allege that behind the scenes of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the 48-year-old late night host is “erratic,” and the workplace is so toxic that it has even led to some of them having suicidal thoughts.
An unnamed employee described an incident in 2017 where Fallon crossed out jokes on a piece of paper he was holding, then appeared confused, according to Rolling Stone.
“He couldn’t remember he had just crossed it out himself,” the employee said. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, he [seems] drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
The Post has previously reported about Fallon’s drinking and partying getting “out of hand” back in 2015, and a bartender who served him commented, “He’s a mess.”
“Nobody told Jimmy, ‘No,’ ” a staffer told Rolling Stone.
“Everybody walked on eggshells, especially showrunners,” another former employee said. “You never knew which Jimmy we were going to get and when he was going to throw a hissy fit. Look how many showrunners went so quickly. We know they didn’t last long.”
Fallon has hosted “The Tonight Show” since 2014 (premiering to 11.3 million viewers), and before that, he hosted “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” from 2009 to 2014, following his stint on “SNL” from 1998 to 2004.
According to insiders, his erratic behavior has persisted for years, causing there to be nine showrunners in nine years who “don’t know how to say no,” to him.
Staffers allege that Fallon snaps at and belittles crew members and employees, and expresses irritation over minor things.
“It was like, if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is f–ked,” one former employee said. “People wouldn’t joke around in the office, and they wouldn’t stand around and talk to each other. It was very much like, focus on whatever it is that you have to do because Jimmy’s in a bad mood, and if he sees that, he might fly off.”
Fallon has previously denied drinking, saying “I could never do a day-to-day job if I was drinking every night. That’s just kicking you when you’re down.”
Yet employees allege seeing him seemingly inebriated at work, and smelling alcohol on his breath during the workday on several separate occasions between 2017 and 2020.
Former employees also allege that his erratic behavior seemed to depend on whether or not he seemed hungover.
“When something was wrong, we all knew how to behave afterward, which was just sort of avoid eye contact and don’t make another mistake,” one former staffer said. “It would happen over the smallest thing… We would have to shut the whole thing down, the sketch isn’t happening, and when things like that would happen, you would just beat yourself up.”
Employees also alleged that Fallon’s notes and feedback on their work could get nasty and personal, such as writing, “Are you OK? Seriously, do you need help?”
According to Rolling Stone, Fallon wrote notes one one employee’s work that read, “Ugh, lame. What is going on with you?”
Seven former employees said that it was common to call dressing rooms “crying rooms,” and common to joke about wanting to “kill themselves.”
Employees describe an atmosphere of stress and fear that caused them to go on anti-anxiety medication, one person lost 20 pounds, four employees say they are in therapy because of their experiences, and three said they had 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 said.
“Writing for late night is a lot of people’s dream jobs, and they’re coming into this and it becomes a nightmare very quickly,” another employee added.
“They all need to dig their heads out of the sand and do something about the very obvious problems that we all know are happening.”
When The Post reached out for comment, a source from the show said that the work environment has significantly shifted over time since new 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.”
Another producer on the show said that Fallon is extremely “engaged” with the staff and “the atmosphere is very different.”
