From Jimmy Fallon to Ellen DeGeneres, why are talk shows such a hotbed of ‘toxic workplace’ allegations?

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In the investigation, employees claimed that they were left in a “constant state of fear” thanks to a chaotic atmosphere and Fallon’s allegedly unpredictable, “erratic” behaviour. Fallon reportedly apologised to current Tonight Show staffers over Zoom after the story broke, telling them that he “feel so bad” about the “embarrassing” report; a spokesperson for broadcaster NBC said that they were “proud” of the show and that “providing a respectful working environment is a top priority”. Back in 2020, former employees of Ellen DeGeneres’s chat show told BuzzFeed News that the atmosphere was “dominated by fear”. Throw in the cult of personality that often exists around presenters and revered producers to the mix and it’s no surprise that the talk show world is rife with allegations of “toxicity” – it’s arguably more surprising that it has taken so long for these claims to surface.