Jeffrey Tambor will not be returning to Amazon’s series “Transparent” for Season 5, the network said Thursday.
The decision comes after the conclusion of an investigation into accusations that Tambor sexually harassed three women, including his ex-assistant and transgender actress Van Barnes, “Transparent” actress Trace Lysette, and makeup artist Tamara Delbridge. Tambor previously denied the accusations.
“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,” said series creator Jill Soloway in a statement to TheWrap about Tambor’s exit.
“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,” Soloway’s statement continued. “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.”
A representative for Tambor did not immediately return TheWrap’s request for comment.
Tambor was first accused by Barnes in a private Facebook post in November, saying that the actor behaved inappropriately towards her, but did not go into further detail. The accusation launched Amazon’s investigation, and Tambor said the claims against him were “baseless.”
“I am aware that a former disgruntled assistant of mine has made a private post implying that I had acted in an improper manner toward her,” Tambor said in a statement at the time. “I adamantly and vehemently reject and deny any and all implication and allegation that I have ever engaged in any improper behavior toward this person or any other person I have ever worked with. I am appalled and distressed by this baseless allegation.”
About a week later, Lysette, who has a recurring role on “Transparent,” said Tambor thrusted himself against her on set after sexualizing her with an “over the top comment.”
“My back was against the wall in a corner as Jeffrey approached me,” Lysette said. “He came in close, put his bare feet on top of mine so I could not move, leaned his body against me, and began quick, discreet thrusts back and forth against my body. I felt his penis on my hip through his thin pajamas and I pushed him off of me.”
Tambor denied Lysette’s accusation as well, saying “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.”
Delbridge, who has no connection to “Transparent,” accused Tambor of forcibly kissing her on the set of the 2001 film “Never Again.”
Tambor previously said in November he did not foresee himself returning to the Amazon series. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to ‘Transparent,’” he said.
Tambor won Emmy Awards for his role as Maura Pfefferman in 2015 and 2016, and was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2017.
Deadline first reported that Tambor will not return for Season 5.