Emmy Award-winning actor Jeffrey Tambor has announced that he has exited Amazon’s acclaimed drama series Transparent following sexual harassment allegations from his former personal assistant Van Barnes, along with Transparent guest star Trace Lysette.
“Playing Maura Pfefferman on Transparent has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” said Tambor in a statment to Variety. “What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago. I’ve already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue. Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”
Tambor has previously denied the allegations, stating that: “For the past four years, I’ve had the huge privilege — and huge responsibility – of playing Maura Pfefferman, a transgender woman, in a show that I know has had an enormous, positive impact on a community that has been too long dismissed and misunderstood. Now I find myself accused of behavior that any civilized person would condemn unreservedly. I know I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with. I can be volatile and ill-tempered, and too often I express my opinions harshly and without tact. But I have never been a predator – ever. I am deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive or if I ever offended or hurt anyone. But the fact is, for all my flaws, I am not a predator and the idea that someone might see me in that way is more distressing than I can express.”
It is understood that the writers room on Transparent has been planning out how to continue the show with Tambor’s involvement since the allegations first emerged earlier this month, although as yet there has been no confirmation from Amazon that a fifth season will get the go ahead.
