Jimmy Fallon’s Tense ‘SNL’ Interaction with Amy Poehler Resurfaces on Social Media

A tense interaction between Jimmy Fallon and Amy Poehler during their Saturday Night Live days is resurfacing after the late night talk show host was accused of creating a toxic work environment for Tonight Show staffers. 

In an excerpt from SNL alum Tina Fey's 2013 memoir Bossypants, the 30 Rock actress recalled witnessing a heated exchange between Poehler and Fallon after the latter yelled at the Parks and Rec actress during a table read. 

"Amy Poehler was new to SNL and we were all crowded into the seventeenth-floor writers' room, waiting for the Wednesday night read-through to start," wrote Fey. "Amy was in the middle of some such nonsense with Seth Meyers across the table, and she did something vulgar as a joke. I can't remember what it was exactly, except it was dirty and loud and 'unladylike.'"

She continued: "Jimmy Fallon turned to her and in a faux-squeamish voice said, 'Stop that! It's not cute! I don't like it.' Amy dropped what she was doing, went black in the eyes for a second, and wheeled around on him. 'I don't f---ing care if you like it.'"

Noting that Fallon was "visibly startled," Fey added, "Amy went back to enjoying her ridiculous bit... Amy made it clear that she wasn't there to be cute. She wasn't there to play wives and girlfriends in the boys' scenes. She was there to do what she wanted to do and she did not f---ing care if you like it."

The resurfaced passage comes days after Fallon was accused by two current and 14 former staffers of perpetuating a toxic environment on set and behind the scenes at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in an exposé published by Rolling Stone.

Some employees alleged that the show's hostile nature led to a serious decline in their mental health, unlawful firings, suicidal ideation and more. 

Fallon reportedly apologized to his staff via Zoom after the allegations came to light, per Rolling Stone.

"It's embarrassing and I feel so bad," he said, according to employees. "Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends... I feel so bad I can't even tell you."

Fallon also allegedly claimed he did not intend to "create that type of atmosphere for the show," adding: "I want the show to be fun, [it] should be inclusive to everybody. It should be the best show."