Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source
Jay Leno laughs off rumors mob involved in his fall down Greensburg hill | TribLIVE.com
Celebrity News

Jay Leno laughs off rumors mob involved in his fall down Greensburg hill

Mike Palm
8076134_web1_ptr-JayLeno-010225
Getty Images
Jay Leno attends amfAR Las Vegas at Wynn Las Vegas on Nov. 22, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

One of Jay Leno’s staples when he hosted “The Tonight Show” involved a segment featuring ridiculous headlines.

The veteran comedian has found himself in a real-life version of that after a November mishap in Westmoreland County. Before a Nov. 15 show at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Leno said he fell down a hill while walking to a restaurant from his hotel.

Leno, 74, performed that night, wearing an eye patch over his left eye, and later told “Inside Edition” that he broke his wrist, lost a fingernail and had bruising all over the left side of his body.

Internet conspiracy theories instantly popped up as to how the comedian was injured, with some speculating that organized crime may have been involved.

In a recent appearance on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, the topic was broached.

“It’s a conspiracy theory since you’ve had three accidents,” Maher said. “That you actually have gambling debts and you’re being beaten up by the mob.”

Leno, however, laughed off the possibility.

“I love the idea that the mob would drive to Greenburg, Pennsylvania,” Leno said, mispronouncing Greensburg, “wait outside the Hampton Inn in a kind of sleety, rainy day to throw me down a hill.”


Related

Jay Leno visited Hempfield restaurant after fall
Jay Leno injured after fall down hillside in Westmoreland County
2025 Pittsburgh area comedy calendar


Maher also brought up another recent Leno injury — a motorcycle accident in 2023 where both of his kneecaps were cracked — as “cover stories” for being beaten up by the mob.

“I like the idea that they wouldn’t just take one of my cars for the gambling debt,” Leno said.

Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.

Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.

Get Ad-Free >

Categories: AandE | Celebrity News | Editor's Picks | Movies/TV | Top Stories | Westmoreland
Content you may have missed