Jeffrey Tambor Is Leaving ‘Transparent’ Following Allegations of Sexual Harassment

According to Deadline, the star of Transparent, Jeffrey Tambor, has decided not to return to the Amazon series after multiple accusations of sexual harassment were leveled against him by people involved with the show. Due to the wording, it's not clear if he was forced out, fired, or if he voluntarily left to avoid a drawn out headache for everyone involved. The news comes after reports that the Transparent writers were deciding whether or not to include his character in the show's fifth season.

"Playing Maura Pfefferman on Transparent has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life," the 73-year-old multiple Emmy winner said to 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."

"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."

Deadline also adds that Tambor's option for Season 5 had not yet been picked up prior to the accusations that publicly surfaced just over a week ago. Amazon is currently investigating the allegations against their ex-star, which include unwanted remarks and advances that he made against both actress Trace Lysette (who plays a yoga instructor on the show) and a former personal assistant for Tambor, Van Barnes.

You can read the details on the allegations from both Lysette and Barnes right here. As you would probably have guessed, Tambor has denied both of their accounts.