Jay Leno wants to joke about his facial burns: ‘There’s nothing worse than whiny celebrities’

It’s been almost a month since Jay Leno was rushed to hospital with severe burns after a gasoline accident, but the comedian wants to bring some lightness to the conversation about his new normal or new face.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about his accident, the former Tonight Show host said: “Eight days later I had a brand new face. And it’s better than what came before.”

It’s not the first time the 72-year-old has cracked jokes at his own expense.

Just two weeks after his treatment at the Grossman Burn Center, Leno joked with reporters outside the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, “I never saw myself as a roasted comic,” per the “Today” video. “We have two shows tonight: regular and extra crispy.”

JAY LENO RETURNS TO COMEDY CLUB AFTER BURNER ACCIDENT, NEW PHOTOS SHOW

Jay Leno joked that he had “a brand new face” after his accident.
(Vivien Killilea/MEGA)

Speaking candidly to the Journal, Leno says, “But really, it was an accident, that’s all. Anyone who regularly works with their hands will eventually have an accident.”

Leno suffered injuries to his hands and face after a fire broke out in Leno’s Burbank garage on November 12.

“When you play football you get a concussion or a broken leg. Everything you do is a risk factor.”

Jay Leno’s burns are visible on his face as he drives around Los Angeles weeks after his accident.
(MEGA/GC images)

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Leno doesn’t plan to skip making fun of himself.

“You have to joke about it. There’s nothing worse than tearful celebs. When you joke about it, people laugh along with you,” he said of being the butt of his own joke.

Jay Leno is back on stage after his accident.
(Rodin Eckenroth)

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Leno will perform standing up at The Comedy & Magic Club on Sunday night.

Caroline Thayer is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Follow Caroline Thayer on Twitter at @carolinejthayer.