‘Sorry if I embarrassed you’: Jimmy Fallon apologises for ‘toxic’ workplace culture

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US talk show host Jimmy Fallon has reportedly apologised after staff on his top-rating Tonight Show complained about his professional conduct.

Industry magazineVariety reported that Fallon had apologised to staff on the NBC program after more than a dozen of the show’s past and present employees told Rolling Stone magazine that the presenter had created a toxic working environment.

Staff have accused Jimmy Fallon of fostering a toxic workplace culture.Credit: AP

Fallon, who was in London last week for the launch of the new Rolling Stones album, acknowledged the criticism in his apology.

“It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad,” he was reported to have said via a Zoom call with employees on Thursday afternoon (New York time). “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends. I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”

He went on to say that he wanted the show to be “fun … it should be inclusive for everybody – it should be funny,” adding that it “should be the best show [and] the best people.”

The apology came after staffers working on the show told Rolling Stone that the work environment had affected their mental health.

Some employees depicted Fallon as being short-tempered and prone to lashing out when under pressure, while others said they felt intimidated and that tension in the studio often fluctuated depending on whether it was a “good Jimmy day” or a “bad Jimmy day”.

Fallon took over NBC’s late-night slot from Jay Leno in 2014 and there has been a high turnover in staff since the change, Rolling Stone reported.

One employee said that working on the popular late-night show had turned from a dream to a nightmare for many staffers.

Fallon interviewed the Rolling Stones in London on Wednesday for their album launch. Pictured from left: Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Jimmy Fallon and Keith Richards.Credit: AP

NBC also issued a statement.

“We are incredibly proud of The Tonight Show, and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority,” it said. “As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues, those have been investigated and action has been taken where appropriate.”

Rolling Stone, however, had reported that staff complaints had fallen on deaf ears.

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