Jay Leno has addressed and debunked rumors suggesting that his recent injuries were connected to “mob” activity.
In the December 22 episode of Bill Maher’s podcast Club Random, the two comedians discussed their careers and various anecdotes. During the conversation, Maher humorously inquired if Leno’s injuries were linked to gambling debts and the mob.
“Well, I like the idea that they wouldn’t just take one of my cars for the gambling debt,” Leno joked. According to DupontRegistry, Leno is the proud owner of 181 cars and 160 motorcycles.
The online rumors, however, were completely unfounded. Leno clarified that he doesn’t engage in gambling.
“I don’t gamble,” Leno said. “Losing 100 bucks makes me feel stupider than winning one thousand makes me feel good. Because I go, ‘I could have taken my wife to dinner.’”
Although Leno acknowledged having had a brief encounter with a Mafia member early in his career, he firmly denied that his injuries had anything to do with organized crime.
“I was pretty smart,” Leno told Maher. “I remember years ago, I was at Catch a Rising Star [a New Jersey comedy club], and I was onstage. Afterward, this guy — a mob guy — comes up to me and says, ‘Hey, you’re a funny kid. You’re a funny kid.’”
Leno continued recounting the story, saying, “He takes $100 and puts it in my pocket. I say, ‘Oh, thank you.’ I say, ‘Look, I don’t mean any disrespect, but, you know, give it to the church or something. I’m okay, but thank you.’
And he says to me, ‘You know, you’re a smart kid. You don’t take money from people like me. That’s smart.’ And nobody ever bothered me again.”
The injuries in question occurred in November after Leno performed a show in western Pennsylvania. While heading to Dino’s Sports Lounge, he misjudged the terrain and took a fall down a 60-foot hill.
In an interview, Leno described the accident, explaining that the slope didn’t appear steep at first glance. “The hill didn’t look steep until I took the first step,” he said, adding that he yelled “duh” before the tumble. The comedian sustained a broken wrist, a black eye, and several other bruises.
Leno’s candid humor and ability to laugh at himself remain as sharp as ever, even in the face of persistent rumors and unexpected accidents.
