Jeffrey Tambor has now officially been fired from Transparent, several months after sexual harassment allegations came to light.
Amazon confirmed the news, leaving the show in limbo ahead of its upcoming fifth season.
Series creator Jill Soloway said in a statement announcing the news that she had “great respect and admiration” for Van Barnes and Trace Lysette, who came forward with complaints, saying they were “an example of the leadership this moment in our culture requires.”
She continued: “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. 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.”
Tambor, on the other hand, claims the investigation into the complaints was “deeply flawed”.
“I am profoundly disappointed in Amazon’s handling of these false accusations against me,” he said. “I am even more disappointed in Jill Soloway’s unfair characterisation of me as someone who would ever cause harm to any of my fellow cast mates. In our four-year history of working together on this incredible show, these accusations have NEVER been revealed or discussed directly with me or anyone at Amazon. Therefore, I can only surmise that the investigation against me was deeply flawed and biased toward the toxic politicised atmosphere that afflicted our set.
“As I have consistently stated, I deeply regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone and I will continue to vehemently defend myself. I also deeply regret that this ground-breaking show, which changed so many lives, is now in jeopardy. That, to me, is the biggest heartbreak.”
He was accused by personal assistant Barnes of sexual harassment in a private Facebook post in November last year, with guest star Lysette coming forward with similar allegations shortly after.
At the time, he issued a statement saying that Transparent was “no longer the job I signed up for four years ago,” adding that there seemed to be no way he could return to it, leading to some confusion over whether or not he was still attached.
At the time, he also apologised if “any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive … I know I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with.”
As Tambor stars in Transparent – as transgender woman Maura Pfefferman – it’s unclear what this will mean for the future of the show.
