Sexual deviant Harvey Weinstein’s demise has started a trend.
Serial abusers who hid behind the cloak of liberalism are being exposed en masse.
In light of multiple allegations, the star of an acclaimed Amazon show finds himself the latest victim on the chopping block.
Jeffrey Tambor, star of Amazon’s critical darling “Transparent,” was recently booted from the show after the conclusion of a probe regarding harassment allegations made against him.
From Deadline:
More than three months after first being accused of sexual harassment on the set of Transparent, Jeffrey Tambor is now officially off the Amazon series. While it remains unclear whether the upcoming fifth season of the Emmy-winning Jill Soloway-created show will be its last, it is clear that Tambor will not be part of the new season…
With the investigation by Amazon into multiple allegations of misconduct by the Golden Globe and Emmy winner completed recently, the decision to cut Tambor was made in the past week.
This, of course, comes after Tambor, who plays Maura Pfefferman on the barrier-shattering series, said on November 19 that “I don’t see how I can return to Transparent,” citing the growing claims against him and “the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set.” The actor and his reps then tried to walk back that declaration after it was widely viewed as an exit from the series.
Today, Amazon confirmed to Deadline that Tambor is not coming back and that the harassment investigation was concluded. No results of the investigation were unveiled, but sources tell me Tambor’s behavior “could not be justified or excused under scrutiny.”
“I have great respect and admiration for Van Barnes and Trace Lysette, whose courage in speaking out about their experience on Transparent is an example of the leadership this moment in our culture requires,” Soloway said Thursday. “We are grateful to the many trans people who have supported our vision for Transparent since its inception and remain heartbroken about the pain and mistrust their experience has generated in our community,” she added. “We are taking definitive action to ensure our workplace respects the safety and dignity of every individual, and are taking steps to heal as a family.”
[…]
Obviously, with no particulars on how Tambor’s primary character will be written out, they found a Maura-less path.
In November, transgender actresses Van Barnes and Trace Lysette came forward with allegations of harassment against Tambor. The actor issued a statement of apology soon afterwards, saying he was “deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive.” With his on-set behavior under examination, Tambor added at the time: “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.”
Less than a day after Lysette’s claims went public, Transparent writer and producer Our Lady J became the first and only member of the series to back both accusers publicly. Thanking Lysette for her “leadership,” the transgender scribe added on November 17, “We cannot let trans content be taken down by a single cis man.”
On November 22, Tamara Delbridge became the third and the first non-transgender individual to accuse Tambor. The then-makeup assistant detailed how Tambor forcibly kissed her on the set of the 2001 film Never Again.
“I have absolutely no recollection of anything like this incident ever happening,” Tambor said in response to that allegation. “If it did, it wasn’t meant as anything more than an enthusiastic farewell and gratitude for a job well done at the end of a shoot. However, I am deeply sorry for any discomfort or offense I may have inadvertently caused her.”
Tambor pushed back against the move in a press release.
“I am profoundly disappointed in Amazon’s handling of these false accusations against me. I am even more disappointed in Jill Soloway’s unfair characterization of me as someone who would ever cause harm to any of my fellow cast mates. 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. 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.”
Weinstein, Spacey, Tambor, et al are radioactive right now. Time will tell if they’ll be allowed back inside the bubble, but early indications are negative.
Tambor was recently removed from the poster of the upcoming political satire “The Death Of Stalin”, and Spacey’s role in “All the Money In the World” was completely recast.
That said, if one group is forgiving of abhorrent behavior, it’s Hollywood liberals, so long as you aren’t a conservative.