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He’s sorry.
Jimmy Fallon is said 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 characterized the funnyman’s mea culpa as “pretty earnest.”
The news comes after Rolling Stone published a story in which 16 current and former employees accused the late night talk show host, 48, of being “erratic,” drunk at work and creating a “toxic work environment.”
Fallon reportedly told staffers that he did not intend to “create that type 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 family and friends … I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”
Reps for NBC and Fallon did not respond to requests for comment.
However, an insider with knowledge of the situation suggested the report is the result of a staff leak.
A source close to the show told The Post earlier Thursday 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.”
Fallon also apparently acknowledged the amount of turnover “The Tonight Show” has had in regard to its showrunners, but emphasized that Miller is “a great leader” and is there to stay.
“I want the show to be fun, [it] should be inclusive to everybody,” Fallon said, according to the employees. “It should be the best show.”
In the follow-up story, Rolling Stone claimed that Miller sent out an email to employees to discuss the matter.
“I wanted to make you all aware of an online story that just hit on rollingstone.com that includes past allegations of inappropriate behavior at the show,” Miller allegedly wrote in the email.
“While I know the reporter reached out to many of you before the piece ran, I don’t believe what’s written is reflective of the overall culture of our extraordinary team that I’m so lucky and proud to work with every day. The place described in the article is not the place I know.
He apparently added, “Still, it’s disappointing to see something published that does not capture the positive and inclusive environment I believe we have created together.”
Miller also allegedly “encouraged employees to raise any concerns they might have with him, their managers, or HR,” according to Rolling Stone.
NBC told The Post in a statement, “We are incredibly proud of ‘The Tonight Show,’ and providing a respectful working environment is a top priority. As in any workplace, we have had employees raise issues; those have been investigated and action has been taken where appropriate. As is always the case, we encourage employees who feel they have experienced or observed behavior inconsistent with our policies to report their concerns so 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 mess.”
Page Six reported in October 2016 that top-ranking NBC execs had warned Fallon to cut back on the alcohol in fear that “he was out of control and something could happen while he’s out drinking.”
Rolling Stone claimed in its follow-up report that their journalists contacted more than 80 past and present “Tonight Show” employees when writing the tell-all.
“While many of them praised Fallon’s immense talent and comedic gifts, not a single one agreed to speak 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 simple task while taping a segment with the sitcom legend.
Rolling Stone claimed Seinfeld’s reps did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but once the story was published, Seinfeld sent them the following statement:
“This is so stupid. I remember this moment quite well … I teased Jimmy about a flub, and we all had a fun laugh about how rarely Jimmy is thrown off. It was not uncomfortable at all. Jimmy and I still occasionally recall 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.
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