VIDEO: Jay Leno Reveals Why He Kept Joan Rivers Off THE TONIGHT SHOW

Jay Leno spoke to ACCESS HOLLYWOOD last night and explained why he continued to ban late comedian Joan Rivers from THE TONIGHT SHOW.

"I didn't want to do it while Johnny was alive, out of respect for Johnny - I don't think he wanted to see her on the show," the host told Access Hollywood'd Billy Bush. He went on to share there was never an official promise made to Carson. "No, no, it never came up. nothing was ever said, we just didn't do it."

"It got a little awkward - by that point, Joan was going on and on about me," says Leno of the period following Carson's death. "I don't have regrets about anything." He also revealed that he was always fond of Rivers and had no ill feelings towards her. Watch the interview below!

Carson and Rivers had a very public falling out after the comedienne, who served as the only official Tonight Show replacement host for Carson, was offered her own late-night show on FOX.

Rivers finally made her triumphant return to The Tonight Show when current host Jimmy Fallon invited her on in the spring.