Arrested Development: Jessica Walter on Jeffrey Tambor Row
The cast of Arrested Development reunited this week for a frank group interview that addressed some difficult topics, including allegations of sexual misconduct against Jeffrey Tambor and an on-set fight he had years ago with co-star Jessica Walter.
The wide-ranging discussion with the New York Times, which included Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Jason Bateman, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Will Arnett, and David Cross, also touched on how the fifth season of the show confronts President Trump’s administration and the challenges of the series’ longevity. Portia de Rossi and Michael Cera, the show’s other two stars, did not participate.
Tensions were laid bare when the interview turned to allegations of sexual and verbal harassment against Tambor. The actor, who plays George Bluth Sr. in the show, was accused of sexual harassment last year by two people on Amazon’s Transparent. He was fired from Transparent in the wake of the claims.
Tambor recently acknowledged that he could be “mean” and “difficult” on set but denied the Transparent allegations in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He also alluded to a “blowup” with Walter, his on-screen wife on Arrested Development, for which he said he “profusely apologized.”
Bateman (Michael Bluth) defended Tambor’s behavior as typical of sometimes-strained relations. “In the entertainment industry it is incredibly common to have people who are, in quotes, ‘difficult.'” he said. “It’s a weird thing, and it is a breeding ground for atypical behavior and certain people have certain processes.”
“But that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable,” Shawkat (Maeby Fünke) shot back. “And the point is that things are changing, and people need to respect each other differently.”
Walter (Lucille Bluth) cried when she recounted the incident with Tambor, describing it as anything but ordinary. “In like almost 60 years of working, I’ve never had anybody yell at me like that on a set. And it’s hard to deal with, but I’m over it now,” she said. “I have to let go of being angry at him. He never crossed the line on our show, with any, you know, sexual whatever. Verbally, yes, he harassed me, but he did apologize. I have to let it go.”
The exchange sat uncomfortably for some readers, sparking a heated debate on social media.
Here’s audio of Jessica Walter CRYING, standing up for herself after all the men in the AD cast try to gaslight her into thinking Tambor’s harassment isn’t THAT bad. This is horrific. pic.twitter.com/innJv8LIYF
— Kevin T. Porter (@KevinTPorter) May 23, 2018Tambor will appear on Arrested Development‘s fifth season, which is set to be released on Netflix on May 29. The cult favorite ran for three seasons on Fox from 2003 to 2006, before Netflix revived the show in 2013.
After drawing criticism, Bateman apologized to co-star Jessica Walter Thursday morning in a series of tweets.
Based on listening to the NYT interview and hearing people’s thoughts online, I realize that I was wrong here.
I sound like I’m condoning yelling at work. I do not.
It sounds like I’m excusing Jeffery. I do not.
It sounds like I’m insensitive to Jessica. I am not.
In fact, I’m-
- horrified that I wasn’t more aware of how this incident affected her.
I was so eager to let Jeffrey know that he was supported in his attempt to learn, grow and apologize that I completely underestimated the feelings of the victim, another person I deeply love - and she was..
... sitting right there!
I’m incredibly embarrassed and deeply sorry to have done that to Jessica. This is a big learning moment for me.
I shouldn’t have tried so hard to mansplain, or fix a fight, or make everything okay.
I should’ve focused more on what the most important...
...part of it all is - there’s never any excuse for abuse, in any form, from any gender. And, the victim’s voice needs to be heard and respected.
Period.
I didn’t say that and instead said a bunch of other stuff and not very well.
I deeply, and sincerely, apologize.
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