LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jimmy Fallon, the host of 'The Tonight Show', has been accused of creating a 'toxic work environment' by 16 former and current staffers.
Talking to Rolling Stone, they claimed that Fallon’s 'erratic' and moody behaviour has made them feel belittled, intimidated, and stressed.
Has Jimmy Fallon's workplace conduct changed?
Fallon’s workplace conduct, as per the report, has changed since he moved from 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' to 'The Tonight Show' in 2014.
One former employee said that the transition increased the pressure on the producers who then passed it down to their employees.
“You have all these NBC pages in the building who are ready, willing, and waiting to take your job,” the former employee said.
The report also alleges that Fallon has unpredictable mood swings. “It was like, if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is f*****,” one former employee said.
Due to this, nobody would joke around in the office. "It was very much like, focus on whatever it is that you have to do because Jimmy’s in a bad mood..," he continued.
Did Jimmy Fallon give anxiety to his employees?
A person revealed they were put on anti-anxiety medication for the first time after having an anxiety attack while working at the show.
Many of the staffers described living in fear with some saying they had nightmares or anxiety related to their work.
The report also claims that Fallon’s inconsistent attitude has led to a high turnover of showrunners, with nine in nine years.
“Nobody told Jimmy, ‘No.’ Everybody walked on eggshells, especially showrunners," the report stated.
One more former employee said, “You never knew which Jimmy we were going to get and when he was going to throw a hissy fit."
What are 'crying rooms' on 'The Tonight Show'?
Some staffers shared with the publication that they were fired from the show with guest rooms reportedly referred to as "crying rooms' to let out their emotions when it all became too much.
They also revealed the physical and mental toll that working for the show has taken on some of the staffers.
Some of them said they suffered hair loss, nail damage, weight loss, insomnia, and crying spells as a result of the stress.
Employees experienced 'suicidal thoughts' and underwent 'therapy' after working with Jimmy Fallon
Four people said they were in therapy because of their experiences while 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, as per the outlet.
Why were employees disappointed with Jimmy Fallon?
For some employees, working on the show was disappointment because it was 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 worker said.
“It’s sad that it’s like that, especially knowing that it doesn’t have to be that way," he added.
How did NBC react to the accusations that Jimmy Fallon created a toxic environment?
NBC responded to the allegations by saying that 'The Tonight Show' starring Jimmy Fallon is a respectful workplace and that any issues raised by employees have been investigated and addressed.
“As is always the case, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behaviour inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so that we may address them accordingly,” an NBC spokesperson said.