A surprise Green Day performance took over a New York City subway station, but Jimmy Fallon’s alleged behavior at the impromptu show is what stirred controversy on social media.
In a post with over 17.5 million views, X (formerly Twitter) user @hannahfeldman_ shared a video of the band’s performance and captured the moment Fallon allegedly used a slur.
In the clip, The Tonight Show television host sang along to the band’s popular song “American Idiot” while shaking a tambourine. The problem for online viewers came when he allegedly sang along to a particular lyric.
In the song, the band’s lead singer belts, “Well, maybe I’m the f***t, America.” Fallon seemed to sing the lyrics enthusiastically, according to viewers, prompting backlash online for his alleged use of the slur, which some referred to as the “f-bomb.” Many were upset that he allegedly used the word, regardless of the fact that he was singing along to a song.
“You can tell Jimmy Fallon has been waiting YEARS to say ‘f****t’ in public,” X user @Baileymoon15 posted.
“I’m laughing so hard why was Jimmy Fallon so excited for the f-bomb drop,” @lilgrapefruits wrote.
i saw @GreenDay tonight for $2.90 pic.twitter.com/i1QrQBoh26
— hannah (@hannahfeldman_) January 17, 2024
Even Fallon’s mere presence at the performance prompted hateful comments from X users.
“[W]hy is Jimmy Kimmel there?” one asked, mistaking Fallon for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
“I would be so mad if I went to see green day and Jimmy Fallon popped up,” user @edzitron said.
The Tonight Show aired Green Day’s surprise public appearance on Jan. 18.
“Let me explain what’s going on here, everybody: My name is Jimmy Fallon, and this is Green Day,” Fallon said to the audience gathered on the platform to watch the band perform. “They have a new album out this Friday, but they’re going to play a classic for you right now.”
During the subway performance, the band also played two songs—”Dilemma” and “Look Ma, No Brains!”—from its new album, Saviors.
The Daily Dot reached out to The Tonight Show and Fallon’s publicist via email and X user @Baileymoon15 by direct message for comment.
