Tambor says he may depart ‘Transparent’
Amazon series actor blames ‘politicized’ set; Simmons defends himself on Twitter.
Emmy-winning actor Jeffrey Tambor indicated Sunday that he may be exiting the groundbreaking Amazon series “Transparent” after being accused of sexual harassment by two women on the set.
“Playing Maura Pfefferman on ‘Transparent’ has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” Tambor said in a statement. “What has become clear over the past few 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,” Tambor continued. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to ‘Transparent.’ ”
Amazon declined to comment but a representative close to the situation noted that no final decision about next season has been made by Tambor or Amazon.
Tambor, 73, had already been under investigation by Amazon before indicating he may not return to the show. In a statement released earlier this month, original showrunner Jill Soloway said she would willingly cooperate with the investigation.
“Anything that would diminish the level of respect, safety and inclusion so fundamental to our workplace is completely antithetical to our principles,” she said. “We are cooperating with the investigation into this matter.”
Meanwhile, music mogul Russell Simmons took to Twitter on Sunday to reiterate his response to a Los Angeles Times report of allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage model in 1991.
“I completely and unequivocally deny the horrendous allegations of non-consensual sex against me with every fiber of my being,” he said in the statement.
Simmons, 60, faces allegations of coercing model Keri Claussen Khalighi, then 17 years old, into performing oral sex on him in 1991 as his former protégé Brett Ratner watched.
“Everything that happened between us 26 years ago was completely consensual and with Keri’s full participation,” Simmons said in the statement. “Abusing women in any way shape or form violates the very core of my being.”
According to Khalighi, the 1991 incident took place at Simmons’ New York City apartment after he pulled off her clothing.
“I looked over at Brett and said ‘help me’ and I’ll never forget the look on his face,” she told The Times. “In that moment, the realization fell on me that they were in it together.”
The Beverly Hills Police Department investigated Simmons and Ratner in 2001 after a woman filed a report alleging that she was a victim of sexual battery. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence.
A person with knowledge of the matter confirmed Sunday that Ratner’s longtime publicist, Simon Halls, is no longer working with the director.
Terry Crews posted a screenshot of an email Sunday he said was from Simmons, urging the actor to give the target of his sexualassault allegations a pass.
“Did he ever apologize,” reads the email, simply titled “Agent.” “Give the agent a pass. Ask that he be reinstated. With great love, all things are possible.”
“No one gets a pass,” wrote Crews, 49, on Twitter.
A representative for Simmons could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday evening.
Cews recently spoke out about his alleged assault at the hands of a “high-powered” male entertainment executive, who was later identified as WME agent Adam Venit. Venit is currently on leave from the agency.
Also on Sunday, PBS announced that Sen. Al Franken has been edited out of a special honoring David Letterman following allegations of sexual harassment.
“PBS will air an updated ‘David Letterman: The Mark Twain Prize’ on Monday,” the network said in a statement. “Sen. Al Franken participated in the event, but will not appear substantially in the PBS program.
“PBS and WETA, the producing station, felt that the inclusion of Sen. Franken in the broadcast at this time would distract from the show’s purpose as a celebration of American humor.”
Last week, TV host and sports broadcaster Leeann Tweeden accused the Democratic senator from Minnesota of kissing and groping her without her consent in 2006.