Editing Jay Leno (section)

==Public image==

===Criticism===
[[File:Jaylenocropped.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Leno on set of ''The Tonight Show'' in 2005]]
[[File:Leno on Letterman.webm|thumb|right|Leno discussing the feud with [[David Letterman]] in 2023]]
Leno has faced criticism for his perceived role in the [[2010 Tonight Show conflict|2010 ''Tonight Show'' conflict]].<ref name="wsj11510">[https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/15/why-some-comics-arent-laughing-at-jay-leno-essay/ "Why Some Comics Aren't Laughing at Jay Leno"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723162841/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/15/why-some-comics-arent-laughing-at-jay-leno-essay/ |date=July 23, 2010 }}. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''</ref><ref name="kc11810">{{cite news|last=Barnhart |first=Aaron |url=http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/1691791.html |title=Jay Leno is Mr. Nice Guy no more – but was he ever? |date=January 18, 2010 |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |access-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121012846/http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/1691791.html |archive-date=January 21, 2010 }}</ref> Critics have cited a 2004 ''Tonight Show'' clip where Leno said he would allow O'Brien to take over without incident.<ref name="kc11810" /><ref name="dj11710">{{cite web |last1=Sklar |first1=Rachel |title=Flashback: Jay Leno Announces His Handover to Conan in 2004 |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/flashback-jay-leno-announ_b_425997 |website=HuffPost |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=March 18, 2010 |archive-date=February 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220014654/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/flashback-jay-leno-announ_b_425997 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time, Leno said he did not want O'Brien to leave for a competing network, adding, "I'll be 59 when [the switch occurs]. That's five years from now. There's really only one person who could have done this into his 60s, and that was [[Johnny Carson]]; I think it's fair to say I'm no Johnny Carson."<ref name="dj11710" /> Leno also described ''The Tonight Show'' as a [[dynasty]], saying, "You hold it and hand it off to the next person. And I don't want to see all the fighting." At the end of the segment, he said, "Conan, it's yours! See you in five years, buddy!"<ref>[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6d1caacad1/jay-s-2004-announcement 2004 Tonight Show Clip: Conan, It's yours!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124165651/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6d1caacad1/jay-s-2004-announcement |date=January 24, 2010 }} [[Funny or Die]].</ref>

[[Rosie O'Donnell]] was among O'Brien's most vehement supporters,<ref name="RosieSupport">{{cite web|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/2010/01/rosie-odonnell-is-on-team-conan.html|title=Rosie O'Donnell is on Team Conan|publisher=[[Zap2it]]|date=January 14, 2010|author=Porter, Rick|access-date=January 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118084613/http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/2010/01/rosie-odonnell-is-on-team-conan.html|archive-date=January 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rosie-o-donnell-jimmy-kimmel-slam-jay-leno-tonight-show-battle-article-1.460304 "Rosie O'Donnell, Jimmy Kimmel slam Jay Leno over ''Tonight Show'' battle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117231054/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/14/2010-01-14_rosie_odonnell_to_jay_leno_step_aside_and_let_conan_obrien_have_tonight_show.html |date=January 17, 2010 }}. ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]'' (New York).</ref> calling Leno a "bully" and his actions "classless and kind of career-defining".<ref name="nyrosie">[https://www.vulture.com/2010/01/rosie_odonnell_has_more_to_say.html "Rosie O'Donnell Has More to Say About Jay Leno"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526231810/https://www.vulture.com/2010/01/rosie_odonnell_has_more_to_say.html |date=May 26, 2022 }}. ''Vulture''. January 20, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2022</ref> Bill Zehme, the co-author of Leno's autobiography ''Leading with My Chin'', told the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', "The thing Leno should do is walk, period. He's got everything to lose in terms of public popularity by going back. People will look at him differently. He'll be viewed as the bad guy."<ref name="latimes11510-2">[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story?page=2 "Taking on America's 'nice guy{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119160024/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story?page=2 |date=January 19, 2010 }}. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. p. 2.</ref>

In 2009, Leno received criticism for asking rapper [[Kanye West]] how his recently deceased mother, [[Donda West]], would have felt about the incident at the 2009 VMAs, causing West to begin crying live on air.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-vibe-shift-1314514/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Jeff|last=Ihaza|date=March 3, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2022|title=The Vibe Is Shifting Away From Kanye West|archive-date=March 3, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220303171249/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kanye-west-vibe-shift-1314514/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Howard Stern]] has also been a critic of Leno before and following his ''Tonight Show'' timeslot-change announcement;<ref name="stern">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2fZH2XqNw "Rosie O'Donnell Slams Jay Leno (Part 1 of 2)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228194322/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2fZH2XqNw&gl=US&hl=en |date=December 28, 2018 }}; [[YouTube]]; January 14, 2010</ref> Stern appeared on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' in 2006 and said he felt it was unlikely that Leno would ever willingly give up ''The Tonight Show''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://talkshownews.interbridge.com/2010/01/howard-stern-to-conan-in-2006-i-dont.html |title= Howard Stern to Conan in 2006: 'I don't see this guy leaving' |series= Talk Show News |website= Interbridge |display-authors= 0 |first= Sue |last= Trowbridge |date= January 15, 2010 |archive-date= February 21, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221232040/http://talkshownews.interbridge.com/2010/01/howard-stern-to-conan-in-2006-i-dont.html }}</ref> During the conflict, Stern made many negative remarks about Leno as a guest on ''Late Show with David Letterman''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=FISHER|first1=LUCHINA|title=Howard Stern Gets in Another Dig at Leno|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=7793427|website=ABC News|access-date=June 30, 2017|archive-date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008130417/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=7793427|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Jimmy Kimmel]] discussed his appearance on Leno's show during an interview with [[Marc Maron]] for the latter's [[WTF with Marc Maron|podcast]] in 2012.  Kimmel stated that he felt O'Brien was not given a proper chance, but that he was also motivated by his own history with Leno.  According to Kimmel, Leno had some years prior been in serious discussions with ABC about the possibility of jumping ship from NBC.  During this period, Leno initiated a friendship with Kimmel, wanting to ensure that they would be on good terms if the move was made.  (Under that scenario, Leno would have taken Kimmel's time slot and become his lead-in.)  However, after Leno made the arrangement to remain at NBC, "those conversations were gone", according to Kimmel.  Realizing that Leno's relationship with him had been artificial, Kimmel felt "worked over", reasoning that Leno was using the ABC discussions as a bargaining tactic to try to get his old job back.<ref>[http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_249_-_jimmy_kimmel  "Episode 249&nbsp;– Jimmy Kimmel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130936/http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_249_-_jimmy_kimmel |date=December 27, 2016 }}. ''[[WTF with Marc Maron]]''; January 30, 2012</ref>

[[John Oliver]] has also criticized Leno for his coverage of the [[Clinton–Lewinsky scandal|Clinton-Lewinsky scandal]] on ''The Tonight Show'' in an episode on [[Public humiliation|public shaming]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=John Oliver on public shaming: 'One of America's favourite pastimes' |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/18/john-oliver-monica-lewinsky-public-shaming}}</ref>

Leno has also been criticized for the perceived change in the content of his monologues from his previous stand-up material. Actor and comedian [[Patton Oswalt]] was among the celebrities who openly voiced disappointment with Leno, saying, "Comedians who don't like Jay Leno now, and I'm one of them, we're not like, 'Jay Leno sucks'; it's that we're so hurt and disappointed that one of the best comedians of our generation&nbsp;... willfully has shut the switch off."<ref name="huffpost">{{cite web |title=Patton Oswalt: Jay Leno Is Like Nixon, I Hate Him (AUDIO) |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patton-oswalt-weighs-in-o_n_419015 |website=HuffPost |access-date=November 12, 2019 |date=March 18, 2010 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528044941/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patton-oswalt-weighs-in-o_n_419015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2020, Leno faced criticism for expressing support for [[Ellen DeGeneres]] despite a workplace investigation into toxic behavior and sexual misconduct and harassment claims against producers of ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/jay-leno-shares-his-support-for-ellen-degeneres-amid-workplace-allegations-150857|title=Jay Leno Shares His Support for Ellen DeGeneres Amid Workplace Allegations|website=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|first=Liz|last=Calvario|date=August 5, 2020|access-date=August 6, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807073740/https://www.etonline.com/jay-leno-shares-his-support-for-ellen-degeneres-amid-workplace-allegations-150857|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/08/05/celebrities-defend-ellen-degeneres/|title=Celebrities defending Ellen DeGeneres are facing a backlash of their own|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Sonia|last=Rao|date=August 5, 2020|access-date=August 6, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806033122/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/08/05/celebrities-defend-ellen-degeneres/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Support for Leno===
[[NBC Sports]] chairman and former ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' producer [[Dick Ebersol]] spoke out against all who had criticized Leno, calling them "chicken-hearted and gutless".<ref name="latimes11510">[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story "Taking on America's 'nice guy{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119160017/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story |date=January 19, 2010 }}. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.</ref> Jeff Gaspin, then chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, also defended Leno, saying, "This has definitely crossed the line. Jay Leno is the consummate professional and one of the hardest-working people in television. It's a shame that he's being pulled into this."<ref name="latimes11510-2" /> Fellow comedians [[Paul Reiser]], [[Jerry Seinfeld]] and [[Jim Norton (American comedian)|Jim Norton]] (a frequent contributor to ''The Tonight Show'') also voiced support for Leno.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reiser|first=Paul|title=A Teachable Leno Moment|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-teachable-leno-moment_b_418197|website=HuffPost|access-date=November 12, 2019|date=March 18, 2010|archive-date=November 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115204927/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-teachable-leno-moment_b_418197|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Adalian |first1=Josef |title=Seinfeld on Jay-Conan Debacle: 'I Can't Blame NBC' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/seinfeld-jay-conan-debacle-i-cant-blame-nbc-12758/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=January 10, 2010 |archive-date=February 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220014654/https://www.thewrap.com/seinfeld-jay-conan-debacle-i-cant-blame-nbc-12758/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/comedian-defends-lenos-return/ | title=Comedian Defends Leno's Return | work=CBS News | access-date=June 7, 2024 | archive-date=June 2, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602223856/http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/comedian-defends-lenos-return/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Responding to the mounting criticism, Leno said NBC had assured him that O'Brien was willing to accept the proposed arrangement and that they would not let either host out of his contract.<ref name="e11810">{{cite web |last1=Fowler |first1=Brandi |title=Jay Tries to Make Nice, While Conan Rallies the Troops |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/162674/jay_tries_make_nice_conan_rallies_troops |website=E! Online |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=January 19, 2010 |archive-date=February 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220014654/https://www.eonline.com/news/162674/jay_tries_make_nice_conan_rallies_troops |url-status=live }}</ref> He also said that the situation was "all business", and that all of the decisions were made by NBC.<ref name="e11810" /> He appeared on the January 28, 2010 episode of ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' in an attempt to repair some of the damage done to his public image.<ref>{{cite news|last=Marikar|first=Sheila|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jay-leno-tells-oprah-winfrey-conan-obriens-tonight/story?id=9687814|title=Jay Leno Tells Oprah Winfrey Conan O'Brien's Exit Wasn't His Fault|date=January 28, 2009|work=ABC News|access-date=January 16, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303181520/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jay-leno-tells-oprah-winfrey-conan-obriens-tonight/story?id=9687814|url-status=live}}</ref>