American TV host Jimmy Fallon has apologised to the staff of 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' after a series of allegations about a "toxic" work environment on the show's set surfaced on the internet. The staff members of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alleged that the show has been a toxic workplace for years due to Fallon's "erratic behaviour," reported The Rolling Stone. Fallon, who took over as the host of the late-night programme from Jay Leno in 2014, held a brief Zoom meeting on Thursday evening and tendered an apology to the staff, reported American outlet Variety.
The 48-year-old TV personality stated, "It's embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends. I feel so bad I can't even tell you."
"I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive for everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people," he added.
The Rolling Stone report also claimed to have interacted with two current and 14 former employees who claimed the show's working environment has been "far outside the boundaries of what's considered normal in the high-pressure world of late-night TV".
One employee said, "It's a bummer because it was my dream job. 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. It's sad that it's like that, especially knowing that it doesn't have to be that way."
Another staffer maintained that the "ugly" behind-the-scenes environment began at the top, with Fallon displaying "erratic" behaviour that led to constant shake-ups in the show's leadership teams.
One of the employees claimed they were fired without explanation and prior warnings. The report also suggests that multiple sources alleged Fallon had a history of "outbursts" and he would lash out at staff when under pressure. The TV host has also accused the previous senior staff of bullying and belittling them.
As a result of the shocking allegations, The Tonight Show is currently on a hiatus owing to the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) unions.