The #MeToo and Time’s Up movements have had an immediate and lasting effect on the entertainment landscape. From Harvey Weinstein’s empire crumbling to TV shows being completely derailed by accusations, there have been many, many stories coming forward, alleging that some of the biggest names in Hollywood have done some horrible things. One of the bigger names that was targeted was none other than Jeffrey Tambor.
The star of the critically-acclaimed hit Amazon series “Transparent” found himself in the middle of multiple accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on set. Multiple people associated with the show and the actor came forward with stories of being verbally abused and made uncomfortable by jokes and advances. After weeks of rumors and accusations, Amazon and the creative team behind the series decided it was time to let Tambor go from the series.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tambor is opening up about being fired from the show and responds to some of the accusations that were thrown his way. “I don’t remember the whole conversation,” he says, referencing the phone call he received from “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway, who informed him of the firing. “But I do remember her last words were: ‘Do you need help with a statement?’ If you can picture a man outside a gym for forever, in his workout shorts and everything, just staring.”
The shock comes from the fact that Tambor felt safe as the main star of the series. He tells THR that he just expected a “slap on the wrist” and was taken aback by the actual dismissal. The reason for his shock wasn’t completely unfounded. According to the report, before Amazon came down with the firing, Soloway had offered Tambor the chance to come back as Mort Pfefferman, Maura’s pre-transition self, in a series of flashbacks. After receiving criticism from the trans community for his portrayal, and recent accusations, Tambor reluctantly accepted. But then the final word came that he was to be fired.
As far as the actual accusations, Tambor is apprehensive about discussing them in detail. The one he does mention is with his former assistant Van Barnes, who accused the actor of multiple sexual harassment situations. “I don’t want to characterize [the allegations],” he says. “What I said was that she was a disgruntled assistant. I think that was generous of me. I dispute her account. I did raise my voice at times, I was moody at times, there were times when I was tactless. But as for the other stuff, absolutely not.”
The “moody” and “tactless” behavior seems to be the root of all the issues. Tambor admits to many indiscretions on the set of “Transparent.” “I drove myself and my castmates crazy,” he says. “Lines got blurred. I was difficult. I was mean. I yelled at Jill — she told me recently she was afraid of me. I yelled at the wonderful [executive producer] Bridget Bedard in front of everybody. I made her cry. And I apologized and everything, but still, I yelled at her. The assistant directors. I was rude to my assistant. I was moody. Sometimes I didn’t talk at all.”
What led to all this negative behavior? Apparently, according to Tambor, it comes from his insecurity about playing a transwoman on TV. “But I was scared, because I was a cisgender male playing Maura Pfefferman. And my whole thing was, ‘Am I doing it right? Am I doing it right? Am I doing it right?’ To the point that I worried myself to death,” he explains.
“Transparent” creator Soloway agrees with Tambor’s assessment of his behavior on set and explains that it was definitely taken into consideration when deciding his fate. He made enemies, and I don’t think he realized he was making enemies. You have to be very, very careful if you’re a person in power and treat people very appropriately,” says Soloway.
However, with Tambor, the loss of his role on “Transparent” isn’t the same as just losing any old job. For him, it’s akin to losing a loved one and grieving for her loss of life. “She was like a friend,” he says of his character. “That may trigger eye rolls, but she was very real to me. And I think in many ways much more awake than I.”
Ultimately, Tambor wants everyone to know that “people change” and maybe he can redeem himself and his behavior on set in the future.
“Transparent” is scheduled to come back for one final season, without Tambor, in 2019. The actor can next be seen in “Arrested Development” season 5, which premieres on Netflix on May 29.