Jeffrey Tambor has spoken out about being fired from Transparent after being accused of sexual harassment.
“I am profoundly disappointed in Amazon’s handling of these false accusations against me,” the Emmy winner, 73, said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly on Thursday, February 15. “I am even more disappointed in [series creator] Jill Soloway’s unfair characterization of me as someone who would ever cause harm to any of my fellow castmates. In our four-year history of working together on this incredible show, these accusations have NEVER been revealed or discussed directly with me or anyone at Amazon. Therefore, I can only surmise that the investigation against me was deeply flawed and biased toward the toxic politicized atmosphere that afflicted our set.”
He added, “As I have consistently stated, I deeply regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone and I will continue to vehemently defend myself. I also deeply regret that this ground-breaking show, which changed so many lives, is now in jeopardy. That, to me, is the biggest heartbreak.”
Amazon Studios announced earlier on Thursday that it had parted ways with Tambor, who has been accused of misconduct by both Transparent guest star Trace Lysette and a former assistant. In response to the allegations, the streaming service launched an internal investigation, which has since been completed.
The actor, who plays a transgender woman named Maura Pfefferman, admitted in a statement to Us Weekly in November that he isn’t always “the easiest person to work with” but said he has “never been a predator — ever.” Days later, he suggested that he planned to leave the show, saying in a second statement, “This is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago. … Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”
