Jay Leno has made light of his injuries after being involved in a recent car fire, which left him needing skin grafts on his face.
On November 12, the 72-year-old former late-night host was involved in an accident while working on one of his classic cars, when a fuel leak and a simultaneous spark in his 1907 White Steam Car triggered an explosion, per People.
The comedian was taken to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles where he was put in a hyperbaric chamber and underwent skin-graft surgery for burns on his face, chest, and hands.
Now, in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday (December 11), Leno downplayed the severity of the petrol fire - which he says has elevated his appearance.
"It was an accident, that’s all," the comic said. "Eight days later, I had a brand new face. And it’s better than what was there before.
"But really, it was an accident, that's all. Anybody who works with their hands on a regular basis is going to have an accident at some point. If you play football, you get a concussion or a broken leg. Anything you do, there’s a risk factor," he added.
Leno then said that he "had to joke about" the situation, explaining: "There’s nothing worse than whiny celebrities. If you joke about it, people laugh along with you."
The TV host is well-known for his expansive classic car collection, which is said to include around 180 cars, 160 motorcycles, and even steam-powered vehicles.
At the time of the incident, officials from the Burbank Fire Department reported that they arrived on the scene and "assessed and treated one adult male patient" before taking him to "a local emergency department," per People.
At the time of his accident, Leno downplayed his injuries to Entertainment Tonight, saying: "I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet."
And, he was right, because the comedian was back on his feet and back on the stage in no time after being released from the hospital on November 21.
He had his first sold-out show just two weeks after his accident at The Comedy and Magic Club in California. Outside the venue, Leno quipped to reporters on the Today Show that he "never thought of myself as a roast comic," adding, "We have two shows tonight - regular and extra crispy."
After Leno was discharged from the facility where he was treated, the doctors released a statement and a photo of him with injuries visible to his jawline, neck, and hands.
In a statement obtained by People, the medics wrote at the time: "After a 10-day stay at the facility, Jay will receive follow-up care at the Grossman Outpatient Burn Clinic for burns to his face, chest, and hands he received during a fire at his home garage."
"Jay would like to let everyone know how thankful he is for the care he received, and is very appreciative of all of the well-wishes. He is looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his family and friends and wishes everyone a wonderful holiday," they said.
Within the statement, his physician Dr. Peter Grossman also added: "I am pleased with Jay's progress, and I am optimistic that he will make a full recovery."
