According to Jerry Seinfeld, Rolling Stone’s recent exposé on Jimmy Fallon includes an “idiotic twisting of events.” The magazine published a report on Sept. 7 in which several former “Tonight Show” staff members claimed the series had a toxic work environment, which included alleged outbursts from Fallon himself. Two employees said they witnessed Fallon berate a crew member who was holding cue cards during a taping of the show with Seinfeld as a guest.
Per Rolling Stone: “They say it was an uncomfortable moment. Seinfeld told Fallon to apologize to the cue-card production member, which he then allegedly did. The employees say this incident, which felt awkward to watch, did not make it to the version of the show that appeared on television.”
“It was very awkward, and Jerry [Seinfeld] was like, ‘You should apologize to him,’ almost trying to make it a joke,” one of the former employees said. “It was one of the strangest moments ever and so many people were there, so it’s kind of hard to forget.”
Seinfeld said in a statement obtained by Variety that the incident was not uncomfortable .
“This is so stupid,” Seinfeld said. “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.”
Hours after the Rolling Stone report published, Fallon apologized to “Tonight Show” staffers.
“It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends,” Fallon said during a Zoom meeting with “Tonight” employees. “I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.” He told the assemblage during the meeting, which was said to be brief: “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.”
Fallon’s “Tonight Show” is currently on hiatus due to the strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA unions representing writers and actors.