Jeffrey Tambor has officially been fired from “Transparent” in light of multiple sexual harassment claims, Amazon Studios announced Thursday.
The streaming giant told the Daily Newsit had completed the internal investigation launched in November and decided not to bring the actor back in his Emmy-winning role on the Jill Soloway dramedy.
Tambor, 73, was hit with two accusations of sexual harassment last fall from women who worked with the star on the set of “Transparent.”
Van Barnes, Tambor’s former assistant, implied inappropriate behavior in November, which the actor dismissed at the time as “baseless.”
A week later, actress Trace Lysette said Tambor “got physical” with her on set.
“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,” she said on Twitter. “I felt his penis on my hip through his thin pajamas and I pushed him off of me.”
Shortly after Amazon launched the investigation, Tambor expressed his “deep regret” in a statement that denied any inappropriate behavior and led many to believe he’d quit the show.
“Playing Maura Pfefferman on ‘Transparent’ has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” he told Deadline. “What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago… Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to ‘Transparent.’”
Though his intention seemed clear, a representative for the actor told the New York Times in December that he had not actually left the show.
“What he said was that given the toxic atmosphere and the politicization on the set, it’s very hard for him to see how he can possibly return. But no final decision for next year has been made, either by Jeffrey or Amazon,” the rep said.
“Transparent” wrapped up its fourth season in September. A fifth season was greenlit in August.