Jimmy Fallon has long framed The Tonight Show as a place for fun, games, and celebrity charm, not politics. But as late-night television leans harder into political commentary and meets resistance, a growing number of fans are questioning whether Fallon’s apolitical approach still fits the moment.
A recent wave of criticism on social media has painted Fallon as out of step with the rest of late-night. Some fans complained after Fallon claimed his show "hits both sides equally" and that his plan is to "keep [his] head down" to entertain everyone. Meanwhile, his late-night colleagues Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers openly engage with current events, even becoming the story themselves as the dispense harsh criticism against politicians.
To be fair, creating a different show was always the point. Fallon inherited The Tonight Show in 2014 and immediately delivered lighthearted comedy and celebrity interaction. It followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Jay Leno, and even Conan O'Brien to a degree in not relying on scoring political points to get a laugh.
Fallon's goofy, inclusive style helped make him one of TV’s most likable personalities. But the world changed, and late-night changed with it. Colbert’s pivot toward political monologues turned him into a ratings juggernaut after 2016, while Meyers built a loyal audience with his sharp “A Closer Look” segments. Kimmel changed his approach, and his recent suspension made him the face of resisting censorship.
Against that backdrop, Fallon’s insistence on keeping things apolitical can look tone-deaf, especially in an era when audiences expect their hosts to say something about what’s happening in Washington. His 2016 moment tousling Donald Trump’s hair still haunts The Tonight Show as a symbol of misplaced friendliness. Eight years later, that image continues to define how many viewers see Fallon when it comes to politics.
Still, it’s not entirely fair to fault Fallon for being who he’s always been. It's only by comparison does his style stick out in the current late-night landscape. The Tonight Show was built as America’s nightly escape, not a platform for political discourse. For every critic demanding he “take a stand,” there are just as many fans who appreciate a space where things aren't so political. Fallon’s warmth and accessibility remain his greatest strengths, and he'd make a mistake by trying to become Colbert or Kimmel.
And it’s not as though Fallon is completely detached from the politics shaping late-night. He may simply express his views differently. Fallon publicly supported Stephen Colbert after CBS announced The Late Show would end next year. He also backed Jimmy Kimmel during his suspension last month. Despite his image as the least political of the bunch, Fallon has drawn his fair-share of scorn from President Donald Trump, who once called Fallon “a moron” and said NBC should fire him. For someone who supposedly avoids controversy, Fallon has managed to attract plenty of it.
Fair or not, Fallon’s late-night colleagues have redefined the genre. By standing apart, he’s made himself an easy target for fans with a new definition of what late-night TV should be. The question isn’t whether Jimmy Fallon should change. It’s whether audiences still want the kind of show that he wants to do.