Jay Leno ‘Clotheslined’ On Vintage Motorcycle – Breaks His Collarbone

Just two months after he suffered serious burns in a garage fire, the former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno has broken his collar bone, two ribs and cracked both kneecaps in a devastating motorcycle accident.

Leno ‘Clotheslined’ In Motorcycle Accident

Daily Mail reported that Leno, 72, was riding a vintage motorcycle in Las Vegas on January 17 when he was “clotheslined” by a piece of wire as he pulled into a parking lot. The wire was strung across the roadway without a sign over it at the time of the accident.

“‘Just last week, I got knocked off my motorcycle,” Leno told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “So I’ve got a broken collarbone. I’ve got two broken ribs. I’ve got two cracked kneecaps. But I’m OK! I’m OK, I’m working. I’m working this weekend.”

“I turned down a side street and cut through a parking lot, and unbeknownst to me, some guy had a wire strung across the parking lot but with no flag hanging from it,” he continued. “So, you know, I didn’t see it until it was too late. It just clotheslined me and, boom, knocked me off the bike. The bike kept going, and you know how that works out.” 

Related: Jay Leno Breaks His Silence About Serious Burn Injuries – ‘My Face Was On Fire’

Leno Kept Accident Private

Leno went on to say that he had not revealed this accident to the world yet because of how much press he got for his burn injuries back in November.

“You know, after getting burned up, you get that one for free,” Leno said. “After that, you’re Harrison Ford, crashing airplanes. You just want to keep your head down (laughs).”

Making matters even worse for Leno is the fact that CNBC cancelled his show “Jay Leno’s Garage” this week, bringing an end to the 30-year streak of his shows airing on NBCUniversal’s networks that began with the comedian hosting “The Tonight Show” back in 1992.

“Jay Leno’s Garage” had been airing since 2014, and it included guests like Tim Allen, Kelly Clarkson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Mike Rowe, according to The Mail. 

Related: Tim Allen Gives Update On Jay Leno – Reveals He’s Refusing To Take Painkillers After Suffering Serious Burns In Fire

Leno Avoids Politics In His Act

Despite the challenges he has faced in the last few months, Leno is still working as a standup comedian. Unlike other modern comics, however, Leno makes a point of keeping politics out of his act. 

“When I was doing ‘The Tonight Show,’ you would get people pissed on both sides, ‘Leno, you and your Democratic friends,’ or, ‘Leno, you and your Republican friends,’” Leno said. “I was proud of myself for not giving away any political beliefs. It was just about the joke.”

“Nowadays, people are mad if you don’t say how you feel,” he added. “I’ve just taken politics out of the act, altogether. I just don’t discuss anymore. It’s like before the punch line, they’re deciding, ‘Is he pro-my guy, or against my guy?’”

Leno’s Friendship With Rodney Dangerfield 

Leno cited his decades-long friendship with the comedic legend Rodney Dangerfield as an example of being close to someone without talking about politics. 

“Rodney Dangerfield and I were friends for 40 years,” Leno said. “I have no idea who Rodney voted for. I have no idea if he was Republican or Democrat, how we felt about the Middle East or any issue. It was all just silly, funny jokes with Rodney. That’s what made him great.”

This has clearly been an extremely difficult few weeks for Leno. While we’re glad to see that he’s maintained his sense of humor, we will continue to pray that he makes a full recovery from his latest ordeal!

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