Jeffrey Tambor Quits ‘Transparent’ Amidst Sexual Harassment Allegations
Jeffrey Tambor has decided to leave his hit show on Amazon, Transparent, after allegations that he sexually harassed an actress between scenes.
According to Deadline, he said he chose not to return to the next season because of the “politicized atmosphere” on set. “Playing Maura Pfefferman on ’ Transparent ’ has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” he said.
“What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago,” he said. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to ‘Transparent.”
Trace Lysette, a trailblazing trans actress who played Shea on the show, claimed that Jeffrey pressed his body against hers in a sexually aggressive manner and made unwanted sexual statements. She claims he said, “My God, Trace. I want to attack you sexually.”
Later, she said, he “put his bare feet on top of mine so I could not move, leaned his body against me, and began quick, discreet thrust back and forth against my body.”
Tambor apologized the same day, saying, “I am deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive. 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.”
On Sunday, he added, “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.”