NBC late-night host Jimmy Fallon has pulled out of a major event amid the Jimmy Kimmel controversy.
However, it’s not clear whether Fallon’s decision bears any relationship to that controversy. But Jeff Beer, a senior staff editor at Fast Company, who moderated the Fallon-less panel, started the discussion by saying, “In light of current events, Jimmy could not make it this morning,” according to Deadline.
Fallon “abruptly canceled his appearance at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival in New York City,” on September 18, according to The New York Daily News, which noted that his withdrawal came shortly after Kimmel was taken off the air.
Jimmy Fallon’s Withdrawal From the Event Was Announced Only Minutes Before the Panel, Reports Say
The website for the festival describes it as, “The 11th annual Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City convenes thousands of business leaders, makers, and innovators for four days of inspired conversations, purposeful networking, engaging activations, and concrete takeaways.”
Deadline reported that Fallon’s withdrawal was announced only minutes before he was set to appear on a panel.
The statement from the organizers did not give a reason. “Unfortunately, Jimmy Fallon is no longer able to attend today’s session,” it read, according to Deadline, which added that the festival declined to make further comment.
Fallon was scheduled to appear alongside marketing executive Bozoma Saint John “had been slated “to discuss their new advertising-focused NBC series On Brand,” reported Deadline. Saint John is still listed as a speaker on the website.
The series is an “unscripted series that pits marketing pros against each other in creative challenges,” according to The Daily News.
Fallon’s Instagram page is silent on the matter, although it does indicate he is scheduled to appear on the podcast of Jason and Travis Kelce on September 18. He also recently taped a show in Detroit.
