Jay Leno, the beloved former host of “The Tonight Show,” didn’t hold back when asked about his experience driving his futuristic Cybertruck around Los Angeles. Known for his expansive car collection and deep love for all things automotive, Leno had a sharp criticism of the city he’s long called home.
While showing off his Tesla Cybertruck, a vehicle that has garnered attention for its unconventional design and robust features, Leno was approached by a curious bystander who inquired if he had conducted the “bullet test” on the truck—a reference to Tesla’s claim of the vehicle’s bullet-resistant exterior.
Leno’s response was as quick-witted as ever: “Yeah, just drive around LA.”
Despite the humorous delivery, Leno’s comment reflected a serious undercurrent of frustration among Angelenos, who have been vocal about their concerns regarding the city’s direction in recent years.
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Beyond the spotlight and his candid street-side remarks, Leno has been facing significant personal challenges that have required a much different kind of resilience and leadership than his television days ever demanded. In April a Los Angeles Superior Court granted Leno conservatorship over wife, Mavis Leno, an indication that the 77-year-old’s health is failing fast.
In January, Mavis was diagnosed with “advanced dementia,” according to PEOPLE Magazine. Ronald Ostrin, a court-appointed representing Leno’s wife, said they were “in agreement” about the conservatorship and that Mavis is “receiving excellent care with her husband, Mr. Leno.”
The intent behind the conservatorship, Jay said, was to help establish “managed assets” that could be carried on in the form of a foundation if he also passes away, the outlet added. “I think she’s in the least restrictive environment. I think she’s in very good care with Mr. Leno,” a judge stated at the proceeding before telling Jay Leno, “Everything you’re doing is right… I totally understand this is a difficult period.”
The judge accepted that Mavis did “consent” to the conservatorship as best she could and that Jay is “fit” to carry on the duties. Leno, 73, told the court that he is in the process of evaluating the best method for handling the couple’s joint assets.
Dr. Hart Cohen, the neurologist who has been providing care to Mavis, testified that Jay is “such a nice man and treats [Mavis] like gold,” further validating the court’s decision. He also referred to the former television host as “a standup guy” whose “private persona matches the public persona he projects,” according to PEOPLE.
Ostrin added that the recent deterioration in Mavis’ mental health fueled concern about her ability to conduct legal proceedings without assistance. She “sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth,” he said while noting that she “has a lot of disorientation, will ruminate about her parents who have both passed.”
Jay and Mavis Leno have been married since 1980 and were most recently seen out on the town at Hollywood Improv comedy club in WeHo last week, the outlet added. Ostrin described their relationship as “long-term, loving and supportive,” as Mavis sees Jay as “her protector and she trusts him.”
The former “Tonight Show” host met his wife in the 1970s while performing a standup comedy act at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Mavis previously described the hesitancy by Leno, who admitted he “wasn’t very good at dating.”
“I always tell guys when they meet a woman, ‘Marry your conscience. Marry someone who’s the person you wish you could be and it works out okay,’” he added.
