Printed: 11:06 AM PDT, September 7, 2023
Jerry Seinfeld is talking out in Jimmy Fallon’s protection.
Following the discharge of a brand new Rolling Stone exposé, during which two present and 14 former staffers at The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon opened up concerning the alleged “poisonous office” on the late-night present, Seinfeld refuted an anecdote during which he was talked about, calling it an “idiotic twisting of occasions.”
Within the article, two workers recall a selected “uncomfortable” incident during which Fallon allegedly publicly “scolded” a crew member in control of his cue playing cards whereas taping a phase with Seinfeld — prompting Seinfeld to inform Fallon to apologize, which he then allegedly did.
“It was very awkward, and Jerry [Seinfeld] was like, ‘You must apologize to him,’ virtually attempting to make it a joke,” a former worker claims within the piece. “It was one of many strangest moments ever and so many individuals have been there, so it is type of onerous to overlook.”
Following the publication of the story, Seinfeld despatched an announcement to Rolling Stone in response: “That is so silly. I bear in mind this second fairly nicely… I teased Jimmy a few flub, and all of us had a enjoyable chuckle about how not often Jimmy is thrown off. It was not uncomfortable in any respect. Jimmy and I nonetheless often recollect it and chuckle. Idiotic twisting of occasions.”
A spokesperson for NBC additionally gave an announcement in response to the Rolling Stone piece, however didn’t point out Fallon by title.
“We’re extremely happy with The Tonight Present, and offering a respectful working setting is a prime precedence,” the spokesperson stated. “As in any office, we now have had workers elevate points; these have been investigated and motion has been taken the place acceptable. As is all the time the case, we encourage workers who really feel they’ve skilled or noticed habits inconsistent with our insurance policies to report their considerations in order that we might deal with them accordingly.”
On Thursday, ET’s Nischelle Turner spoke with journalist Krystie Lee Yandoli, who wrote the exposé, about Seinfeld’s response to the story, and why she was appreciative of the comedian including his perspective to the general public narrative.
“I am actually glad that Jerry responded to us. We reached out a couple of instances previous to publishing and as soon as we revealed, you realize, representatives for him obtained in contact, and I am actually glad that we have been capable of embrace his perspective,” Yandoli stated.
Yandoli stated of Seinfeld’s recollection of occasions, “That’s how he interpreted that second as somebody who was in it, after which I believe there are former workers who [recall] it in a different way primarily based on their experiences.”
“It is not stunning to me that three folks can have completely different takeaways from one second and one expertise,” Yandoli stated. “I believe it’s attainable, primarily based on the conversations that I’ve had with the workers that I’ve spoken to, it is sensible to me that given their alleged experiences they felt a technique primarily based on one thing they have been seeing.”
“They are saying they have been triggered by that as a result of they associated to it on a special stage,” Yandoli stated. “They’re on the present on daily basis, they see in a different way issues than Jerry Seinfeld, who was a visitor on the present for a couple of minutes. So it’s totally attainable that every one of us can expertise issues and interpret them and really feel in a different way about them. So I’m glad that he responded and I’m glad that we have been capable of embrace his perspective.”
Following the discharge of the Rolling Stone piece, a number of Tonight Present producers and assistants gave optimistic statements to ET about their time on the present.
“I all the time look ahead to coming into work, and it’s a true work household,” one producer stated. “Individuals are folks and have good and unhealthy days, however I’ve to say, I can’t consider any unhealthy days or instances I’ve had on the present.”
A present assistant agreed, telling ET, “Rolling Stone’s story utterly misrepresents the environment on the Tonight Present. I’ve had an unimaginable time working on the present – it is a crew that works collectively and is unendingly artistic in making comedy that makes folks smile. Jimmy has an amazing coronary heart and a real purpose of bringing pleasure to everybody.”
ET has reached out to representatives for Fallon and NBC for extra remark.
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