Jeffrey Tambor Exits Lead Role on Amazon's 'Transparent'
Jeffrey Tambor told the publication Deadline that he will be leaving Transparent, the award-winning Amazon series in which he plays a transgender woman.
Trace Lysette, who plays a recurring character on the show and is transgender, says Tambor made lewd and unwelcome comments to her, in addition to being physical with her. Van Barnes, who also appears on the show and is transgender, alleges sexual harassment from Tambor as well.
In response to these allegations, Transparent producer and writer Our Lady J publicly supported the accusers, and said, "[W]e cannot let trans content be taken down by a single cis man.”
Tambor adamantly denies the allegations against him. His decision to leave the show comes before an investigation into the allegations was completed.
"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 continued, "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,” he said. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”
According to Deadline, discussions about removing Tambor from the show were reportedly underway before he announced his exit.
