Jimmy Fallon avoided answering questions about the atmosphere of the “Tonight Show” after being accused of creating a “toxic” work environment.
“I’m so happy to be back I can’t even tell you, I missed the show so much,” he told Page Six at the Broadway opening of “Gutenberg! The Musical!” on Thursday of the show’s return after the writer’s strike.
He continued, “I miss interviewing everyone so much, I was just interviewing my wife for the last five months and she got bored of me so she’s so happy I’m out of the house.
“The show is back, we’re back to telling monologue jokes, back to making people feel happy, I’m so thankful and happy to be back.”
When pressed to address the bombshell Rolling Stone exposé, he simply shrugged and reiterated, “Yeah, I’m happy to be back,” before walking away.
Last month, the magazine published a detailed report citing two current “Tonight Show” staffers and 14 former employees who claimed that Fallon created a “glum atmosphere” at the late-night show by allegedly belittling and bullying people who worked for him.
However, several of the show’s producers came forward to defend the “SNL” alum, describing him as a “supportive” and “collaborative” leader.
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“I cannot say enough good things about him, about how he is an empathetic person, how he hears other people’s opinions [and] how he’s open to being flexible,” an unnamed source told The Daily Mail.
Fallon himself has also apologized for any unwanted behavior, saying that he never intended to create a hostile work environment.
“I’m embarrassed and I feel so bad,” he rued. “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends… I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.”
He added that he did not intend to “create that type of atmosphere for the show.”
“I want the show to be fun, [it] should be inclusive to everybody,” Fallon said, per the outlet. “It should be the best show.”
Despite the allegations, Fallon seemed to be in good spirits at the Broadway show, where he was joined by a number of other celebrities, including Nathan Lane, John Mulaney, Olivia Munn, Busy Philipps, and Bryan Cranston.
It remains to be seen how the allegations will impact Fallon’s career, but it is clear that they have cast a shadow over the return of the “Tonight Show.”