Jimmy Fallon Awkwardly Failed To Get Longer Answers From Anxious Ice Spice On 'The Tonight Show' (2024)

Jimmy Fallon has been receiving criticism for his off-putting interview style. For instance, there was a time when he was too focused on Anya Taylor-Joy's outfits instead of asking her about her work. He was also compared to Stephen Colbert, who seemingly treated Tom Holland "better" on his show. But in July, Fallon pushed it a little far after awkwardly trying to get Ice Spice to talk more on The Tonight Show.

The rapper has previously opened up about suffering from anxiety. However, the host didn't seem to know the proper way to handle it. Before Ice Spice came on the show, Fallon had a similar experience with Chappell Roan due to her lack of media training. But fans can't help but slam the host on this one. Here's why.

Jimmy Fallon Failed To Get Longer Answers From A Nervous Ice Spice About Her 'Y2K' Album

Fallon started the interview by complimenting Ice Spice on her Y2K album cover. "I think the cover is great, by the way. I think it all looks good. This is kind of iconic and great," he said, to which a fan wrote, "These interviewers be throwing out the word 'iconic' at everyone and everything these days." The host then asked Ice Spice how she got into music, but fans felt her answer was lacking.

"Honestly, I just — Like, ever since I was a little girl, I just knew I wanted to make a lot of money," she quipped. "So I would just, like, sit there and look on Google, like, how to become a billionaire. And music never came up... Yeah, we just — You know, I think we just ended up here."

Fallon had a filler response, saying, "Well, you got it bud." Fans thought the Princess Diana performer seemed too focused on making money than making "art", as the host called it. "Love her but I'm disappointed she didn't really show her passion/appreciation for music or explain anything about Y2K," someone wrote. "She needs to give us more, these short answers are not giving," said another fan.

Other fans, however, noticed that Ice Spice was "nervous" during the interview. "She looks nervous asffffff," said a comment. Another netizen said, "You can tell Ice Spice can't believe where she is." But not everyone saw it was an excuse. One fan even blamed the guest for making Fallon uneasy during the interview.

"This is so cringe. She is even making Jimmy awkward and uncomfortable," said a troll. "And the way she kept touching her hair on the left side.. poor kiddo. Seems horribly nervous and unsure of herself."

Ice Spice's 'Y2K' Album Drew Flak Before Coming On 'Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon'

A month before her Tonight Show appearance, Ice Spice drew flak after a fan posted an improved version of her Y2K album cover on X (formerly Twitter). The album title was initially placed on a trash can on the side of the frame (as seen above). "Putting your album name on a trash can is a choice," someone wrote. The fan, @zachdenobrega "made it better" by editing the album title as graffiti on the wall instead. But the Munch hitmaker didn't take the criticism lightly.

Alongside the fan's remake of Mariah Carey's Rainbow album back cover, Ice Spice wrote on X, "u thought u made this better too delulu 😂😭😭😭"

Without directly addressing the backlash on Tonight Show, Fallon asked the rapper, "How do you feel about [the album cover]? How does it feel to now share this art with the world?" Ice Spice said it was "just a sigh of relief" to have released the original album art. "I just feel, like, so much lighter," she added. "I don't know. I'm just so excited and happy that it's out. Like, you have no clue." As it turned out, the Y2K art was done by Dave LaChapelle, who coincidentally photographed Carey's Rainbow album cover.

"David LaChapelle is #Y2K! soooo sweet + legendary," Ice Spice wrote on X alongside a photo with the photographer, "he didn't even charge me cus he f--ks wit a real bitch💋thank U for all the incredible art you've put out through the years this cover means everything to me ❤️ & yes Y2K was placed on the trash can on purpose can u guess why?"

Here are the awards Ice Spice has won since starting her music career in 2021:

Ice Spice Admitted To Suffering From Anxiety Before Her First Jimmy Fallon Interview

A year before her awkward interview with Fallon, Ice Spice told The Guardianshe "be having anxiety" despite her popularity. "Being at award shows, being on magazine covers, getting huge features – all those moments made me feel like: 'Wow, we're really doing it big,'" she said in July 2023. But behind the scenes, she admitted to feeling inadequate at times.

It's no wonder fans got defensive of her on The Tonight Show. "Sometimes you can feel that Jimmy is struggling on holding the conversations with his guests," a fan wrote of Fallon's "short" exchanges with Ice Spice. Another one suggested, "I think she's just nervous tonight. Jimmy brings out a lot in everybody."

At the end of the day, Ice Spice knows publicity is part of the hustle. "But then, at the same time, the opportunity is so big – why am I even getting mad over something so small,'" she reflected on her insecurities. "It's not the end of the world – because I be looking fine, like: it's OK." That doesn't mean it was easy adjusting to being recognized everywhere she goes.

"'I'll be thinking that I'm low-key, but then people start to notice – and once one person notices, people start to form a crowd and then I be getting a little overwhelmed," Ice Spice shared. "As time goes on, people are more and more excited. That's the biggest thing to adjust to in real life – not being able to be outside as myself as much. I more gotta be, like, hiding a little bit."

Luckily, she has Nicki Minaj to serve as her mentor. "She be telling me to learn from her mistakes – just watching her in general, if you pay close enough attention, you gonna see what you should do," said the Deli rapper, adding that she "[loves] to talk to her about things that I can't talk about publicly – it just means so much to be able to have somebody like her."

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

TV-14

Release Date

February 17, 2014

Main Genre

Talk Show

Cast

Jimmy Fallon , The Roots , Steve Higgins , Questlove , Tariq Trotter