CB included a link about Jay Leno yesterday, but it’s blowing up into a bigger story so now we should talk about it. Basically, Jay Leno is in the news because he has some truly gruesome injuries. As you can see in the video clip below, the left side of Leno’s face is horrendously bruised and swollen, with one of the worst “black eyes” I’ve ever seen in my life. Leno says in the video that he was staying at a Hampton Inn outside of Pittsburgh and he didn’t have a car, so he decided to take a “shortcut” down a sharp ravine and ended up going ass over tea kettle. His other injuries include bruises up and down the left side of his body plus a broken right wrist and the loss of one fingernail on his right hand.
First of all, I winced in pain just looking at him. Given the way his face looks, it’s shocking that the only broken bone was his wrist, and it would not surprise me if he cracked ribs or broke some bones in his face. As this video circulated on social media, people began…um, questioning his story.
Three hours after the incident, the 74-year-old performed a standup routine at a comedy event. He’s been out and about since then, but given the severity of his injuries, people online joked that Leno was involved in something much more “strange and sinister.”
“Them damn loan shark injuries lmaoo,” O’Shea Jackson Jr. tweeted.
This isn’t Leno’s first major accident, either. He previously suffered third-degree burns to his face from a fire in his garage and broke several bones in a motorcycle collision.
“Yea. Jay Leno getting extorted for some sh-t … or gambling problems,” another user wrote. “This his 3rd time being f–ked up bad. Da f–k u walking to a show over a mile away, staying at the Hampton inn for ? CUT THE SH-T AND GO TO THE POLICE JAY LENO.”
Someone else added, “Everything about this story—and the two other major injuries Leno had in recent years—suggests that his explanation is false and something very strange and sinister is going on.”
Yeah, the thing is, these are the kinds of injuries one would incur when someone falls down a ravine OR racks up too many gambling debts. Did Big Tony and his baseball bat pay a visit to Jay Leno? I don’t know. This doesn’t make sense either way – Leno is RICH. Seriously rich. He probably has something like half a billion in cash, investments and assets. He has a car collection worth millions. How could he have crazy gambling debts and not be able to pay? Then again, it also makes no sense that he would be in a Hampton Inn outside of Pittsburgh and not have access to a car or driver?? I keep catching on the fingernail detail too. IYKYK.
Jay Leno, who is worth half a billion dollars, "stayed at a Hampton Inn" and "fell down a hill."
Something just ain't adding up. pic.twitter.com/oAlXrEGHzn
— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) November 20, 2024
Them damn loan shark injuries lmaoo https://t.co/EeP9cgkvOl
— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) November 20, 2024
That brother is in deep gambling debt. https://t.co/h5secFC2p6
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) November 20, 2024
So Jay Leno got set on fire a few years ago, is staying at a Hampton Inn while being worth millions of dollars, with an eye patch, bruised up face, a broken wrist and a missing fingernail.
And he wants us to believe he. . . Fell down a hill??? pic.twitter.com/gqTr3wiVVB
— Frieda Breast ✨✨ (@Jas_Stoned) November 20, 2024
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.
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- Los Angeles, CA – Comedian Jay Leno steps out in public for the first time following the recent filing for conservatorship for his wife, Mavis, amidst her Alzheimer’s battle Pictured: Jay Leno BACKGRID USA 28 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – Comedian Jay Leno steps out in public for the first time following the recent filing for conservatorship for his wife, Mavis, amidst her Alzheimer’s battle Pictured: Jay Leno BACKGRID USA 28 JANUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- NBC press event for Hot Wheels Ultimate Challenge Featuring: Jay Leno When: 20 May 2023 Credit: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images
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- Comedian Jay Leno arrives to the East Room where US President Joe Biden hosted the 2023 Kennedy Center Honorees in the White House Recipients of the 46th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievement include actor and comedian Billy Crystal, soprano Renee Fleming, British singer-songwriter Barry Gibb, singer and actress Queen Latifah, and singer Dionne Warwick. Featuring: Jay Leno Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 03 Dec 2023 Credit: POOL via CNP/startraksphoto.com
It’s really sad but I’m thinking straight up alcoholism. Regular injuries from unexplained falls is….not a good thing. And I agree, someone of his means is running around without a driver, security etc? Staying at a Hampton Inn? Maybe his wife threw him out…
His wife has dementia.
His wife has really bad dementia and he is caring for her. Maybe she is acting out violent?
He’s a comedian, always on the road, this is the life. It’s the life he likes. I can see making the bonehead decision to take the shortcut to the restaurant while traveling, although that’s something I would have done when younger, not at whatever age Leno is.
Poor Jay. Whatever happened, he is suffering. And the bruising is horrific. Two words: Arnica Gel. It stops bruises from surfacing. Amazing stuff. I keep a small tube with me at all times. 😉
Leno is 74. Have none of these people had an elderly relative? First, they fall down a lot. Second, they bruise like crazy even with minimal injuries.
Yeah. An older gentleman I know fell down in his driveway and had very rough facial injuries. I think it’s the backstory that has people wondering. It makes you wonder about drinking or cognitive issues.
In today’s modern world, especially for the rich 74 is hardly elderly unless there is an underlying medical issue, like alcoholism.
Falling down regularly is something I wouldn’t be shocked to see in an 84 year old but even then, I know 80+ year olds who aren’t falling down on the reg. Not something I’d think is normal in any of the 74 year olds I know…
Whatever you consider elderly, he is certainly old enough to be on any of the medications for heart health, like blood thinners, that lead to easy bruising.
@Lady Esther, sometimes even for the wealthy and otherwise healthy aging comes faster than you would expect. My own parents started deteriorating at a very accelerated rate after turning 70. It was really shocking to see. They are educated and financially very comfortable.
I did not expect them to get so old. And so fast. And they started making really stupid decisions that they wouldn’t have made 5 years prior.
It wasn’t dementia in either of them. Sometimes rough life events take a serious toll on you when you are older. Leno’s wife has dementia, I can imagine that all the caregiving and grieving might be taking more of a cognitive toll on him than he realizes.
I read this story and thought “yup, sounds like something my parents would have done at 74.”
74 is not that old. It’s not 84. Aging depends on the person, I guess, but he’s still doing stand-up and traveling, so he doesn’t seem super elderly.
The Hampton Inn part is pure b.s.
Exactly. My friend’s mom tripped on a garden hose and looked even worse than that after she fell.
Both of my parents are around that age and bruise easily.
Also the Hampton Inn thing is surprising, but isn’t he notoriously cheap?
All of this, Jessica.
Leave the man his ravine story. No one wants to know it’s really from trying to pee middle of the night and tripping over the dog.
OMG, my friend tripped over her dog! Split her forehead open on the door jamb. She’s in her late 60s. I’m super fall-aware, due to a disability, but she refuses any concessions to age. I’m guessing Leno may be of a similar mindset. You need to be more conscious of what you’re doing as you age!
While it’s true, elderly DO/CAN fall, a LOT (I know this from being my Dad’s caretaker). But this feels so “off”. Why is his face only bruised like that on ONE (left) side? Not even scratches on the other. And only his RIGHT WRIST and ONE fingernail “ripped off”?? NO injuries/scratches/bruises on the other hand/arm??
I’ve heard all the “stories” now being floated that Leno is “cheap”. But this just doesn’t fly, IMO. Hard to believe a 74 yr old would go down an unfamiliar ravine at night to “save” on a driver/car/cab/uber for a few dollars.
IKR? I have a friend who was about 60 at the time, got up in the middle of the night to pee, slipped on the bathmat and fell into the bathtub. Her injuries and bruising were bad, she was in a neck brace for 3 months and her face was a mess. It happens. Stop with the conspiracy theories people.
I think there’s a couple of things that could be true. He could just be super clumsy and fell, as he is older. He may be clumsy, in the way that Jimmy Fallon was very clumsy a few years ago ( if you get my drift), or he could owe some not nice people a lot of money. I mean what we know of his wealth is because of what his wealth was previously. I don’t follow Jay Leno like that but has he recently shown off his huge car collection the way he used to when he hosted The Tonight show? For all we know he could have already sold off half those cars, and depleted his bank account.
My dad is on blood thinners and bruises if you so much as look at him wrong. Maybe that’s it? I don’t know but his face made me wince. It looks horrible.
My father who wasn’t even on blood thinners regularly had minor bruises or scratches from bumping into things because he took Tylenol. Those minor bruises and scratches looked horrible.
He’s telling the truth. First of all, his fall was in Greensburg, PA – 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh where he was doing a show. The Hampton Inn is pretty much the only decent hotel in the vicinity. Leno is notoriously cheap. Most celebrities would have opted for the 5-star Nemacolin Woodlands Resort 20-miles away, but Leno is a miser. He should have splurged this trip and had a:driver.
No comment about his injuries or what might have led up to them, but lifelong, high quality care for someone with dementia would be incredibly expensive, especially if a family member isn’t available to be on-call 24-7 for as long as it’s needed. This would be even more true if he’s anticipating the possibility that he, himself, might need care at some point. So maybe he’s not a “miser” — but has realistically priced out the cost of medical care and a safe, comfortable, supportive environment over a few decades.
He could sell less than 10 of his cards from his car collection and cover the costs of in home care for him, his wife and probably 4 other people. He’s worth 100++million. It’s not that.
He’s not a miser he just seems to like to live a low key life. Outside of his fleet of cars. He’s isn’t so hoity toity he can’t stay at a Hampton’s Inn. Also, comedy is a family. He doesn’t want to be the one staying at a fancy hotel while the line up are all at the Hamptons Inn. He wants to be one of them like he used to be back in the 70’s.
Just a guess here but I would be pretty sure. He has his home set up with everything she needs for round the clock care. Or he would not be able to travel and do stand up.
The Hampton Inn is on a rise above Route 30. Adjacent to the hotel, there is a little shopping center that includes a Sports Bar. He was apparently trying to get down that hill to the shopping center without going down the driveway, and slipped. This is quite possible; the area is very hilly.
I know right where that is, my mom grew up in Ligonier. Route 30 has very steep inclines that can look like a little hill. The story is pretty believable to me if he was taking a “shortcut” down an embankment.
I appreciate the information! Makes sense.
The older we get the more fragile and paperthin our skin becomes, especially if the person had a lot of sun exposure. Add blood thinners/certain meds and fragile bones to the mix and the injuries can be shocking from even minor mishaps. And. It can be like pulling teeth to get some elderly people to get medical care after a mishap. He was always an odd duck about spending his money. He bragged for years that he lived on his money from stand-up gigs and banked all his tonight show earnings. I can see him being a cheapskate without a huge staff, but it seems like a room would be comped by the gig at a nicer hotel. How in demand as a stand-up performer can he be at this point though? He has been around so long and so angered people with the Conan mess, I doubt alcoholism would have been covered up this long.
Old school comedian still doing what he loves doing. I listen to Paula Poundstone’s podcast & she’s still on the road doing one-nighters here, there, & everywhere.
I wouldn’t say he’s a miser, he just lives a pretty low-key life for a rich guy. Saw him earlier this month, he was hilarious.
I have a hard time believing he fell down a ravine while taking a shortcut on foot, presumably in the dark since he was headed to a gig? Let’s say he preferred to stay at the Hampton Inn (?). The venue didn’t provide a car service for a 1 mile journey? Or he didn’t call a taxi/uber? None of this adds up. What gets me is that he still performed that night with those injuries to his face and a broken bone?
I know he is devastated by his wife’s illness, they’ve been married for decades. I’m sure he is having a hard time. It’s the dramatic nature of the incident that makes me wonder what really happened.
He probably crashed or got injured by one of his vintage cars and won’t admit it (bc it makes him look like he doesn’t know what he’s doing when he enjoys looking like an expert), it wouldn’t be the first time. And people that age bruise badly and it takes forever to heal, my 72 year old Dad is the same way.
My mom is 80. Every time I visit her, she has new bruises from her love of gardening and banana tree picking.
She also thinks in her head she is 50, maybe Leno just overestimated his capabilities walking down a steep incline in the dark. Never a good idea.
Leno used to host a corporate event for my company for years. He is the nicest guy in the world. Took the same set pay for years. But once a person kinda goofed on him during the event. He just turned around and roasted the guy to ashes. We were howling backstage watching it go down. Well, that’s my Jay Leno story.
🙂
This sounds like just the oddest combination of events, that it’s likely to be true. And the fact that he’s 74, explains the extreme bruising and broken, instead of sprained, wrist. Next time, Mr. Leno, please call for an Uber or a taxi.
Does the ravine exist in the location he says? Cuz if it does it would be weird to make up a story this suspicious but with the correct landmarks about a city you’re visiting. It would be way simpler to say I chose the stairs over the elevator and fell down than to search on Google where the closest ravine is and build your fake story around that. I get that he’s famous and rich but sometimes the simplest story is usually the correct one. He travels everywhere but rarely gets to see the actual cities he’s in and it’s unseasonably warm weather out east right now. It’s not that far out of the realm of possibility to say he wanted to go for a walk and then fell. And at his age falling is a major danger with extreme short and long term effects.
Also gambling debts at the level that would make Leno poor are handled a lot differently then for regular folks that need to pay off 50K. Discretion would be the name of the game. And with a wife that has dementia that needs major medical care, threatening her or her staff/équipement would be more effective than giving Leno major visible bruises while he is on a tour making the money that could presumably be used to pay off the debts.
He didn’t fall down a hill and I will die on the same hill. Something is going on.
Agreed. Especially given everything else that’s happened to him recently.
Very, very rich people certainly get into accidents too, but they also get into very, very shady situations.
If the man said he fell down a hill, then he fell down a hill. I hope he gets better soon and good for him for being a trooper and still going on with the show. I would be in bed for at least a week if that happened to me. Some people as they age just will not admit to any limitations. My grandfather at almost 80 and diagnosed with lung cancer, would still go out in the garage and work on his car, changing the brakes, etc, insisting that he could do it just fine!
I wasn’t concentrating and tripped up a little kerb and smacked my face into the road. I ended up with a minor head injury, swelling round my eyes and cheeks and spectacular purple and yellow facial bruising. My sister in law tripped crossing the road and broke her shoulder and several ribs. I’m sure there was speculation about us too. Sometimes an accident is an accident.
It’s plausible. One of his employees checks in under their name and he can go straight to a room, doesn’t have to be seen like go through a lobby and then he chills in privacy before his show.
Depending on terrain, if you aren’t wearing the right tread shoes…..yep you can easily slide around and boom. .
Is it odd he didn’t have a driver or a car? Sure. I do wonder how he got to the Hampton Inn without a car especially so far outside of Pittsburgh? Did he just Uber there from the airport? Maybe he was just there for the one gig and he was like all I need a car is to drive to the Hampton Inn and back to the airport, what’s the point of renting a car. That’s the part of the story I’m curious about. Because I might have done the same in his shoes.
But the falling down a ravine while trying to take a shortcut (in the dark maybe?) – this I believe completely. It just sounds like the typical stupid thing a guy would do. I don’t see anything nefarious here.
I can believe he fell, though I also wondered if perhaps his wife has gotten violent as part of her sad dementia journey. He has a house in Newport and by all accounts is low key, doesn’t hit the super expensive/pricey spots, and cars seem to be his big luxury. My job hired him as our convention entertainment a few years ago and he was the least demanding of all the big names we hired over the years.
I do not believe this for one second. His injuries are not consistent with landing face first on rocks. I don’t know what happened but I’m guessing something shady. On his show he used to leer at young women guests.