Deadline is reporting that two-time Emmy-winner Jeffrey Tambor has left his starring role on Amazon’s Transparent, in the wake of multiple accusations of sexual harassment that have been levied against him. Tambor issued a statement about his departure today, once again denying the allegations, and claiming that he’s leaving because of the “politicized atmosphere” that now exists on the show’s set:
Playing Maura Pfefferman on Transparent has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life. 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. Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.
The accusations against Tambor came both from his former assistant, Van Barnes, as well as co-star Trace Lysette, with the latter recounting an incident in which Tambor allegedly cornered her and thrust himself against her after joking about wanting to “attack [her] sexually.”
It’s not clear if Tambor’s departure was entirely voluntary, or if this was a “jump before pushed” scenario; although creator Jill Soloway has been quiet about the investigation into the claims against the show’s star—citing a desire to respect the process—there have been loud rumblings that Tambor might be removed from the series. Meanwhile, it’s not clear at the moment what this will mean for Transparent’s fate. The show is no longer quite the headline-making blockbuster it was in its earlier seasons, but it remains both one of the flagship programs on Amazon’s production slate and a rare instance of well-intentioned trans representation on American TV.