Howard Stern Accuses Jay Leno of Lying About Joan Rivers' 'The Tonight Show' Ban

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Howard Stern was super pissed off at Jay Leno on Monday morning.

Leno was interviewed by Access Hollywood's Billy Bush last week, and Bush had asked why Leno he never had Joan Rivers on The Tonight Show.

Joan Rivers was banned from The Tonight Show after she had gotten into an argument with Johnny Carson, and Leno upheld the ban while he was the host.

"Jay Leno is a f***ing phony," Stern said, and called Leno out on a bullshit answer. Leno had said: "I didn't want to do it while Johnny was alive out of respect for Johnny."

"He's a liar. That's not an honest answer," Stern said. Stern speculates Leno didn't have Rivers on the show because she wasn't popular or happening enough at the time.

Stern also goes on to talk about how Johnny Carson hated Jay Leno, and didn't want him to take over the late night talk show.

"Jay didn't even thank Johnny on the first night of The Tonight Show. Remember that was a big controversy?" Stern said.

In the article by Access Hollywood, Jay was quoted to say: "I like Joan, I mean, that was the first autograph I ever got was Joan Rivers," Jay told Billy.

"We were friends and by that time it just got to be awkward and then we never did it."

"I wish he'd f***ing come in here and explain that to my face," Stern said.