Jeffrey Tambor exits Transparent

The face of Amazon breakout hit Transparent, Jeffrey Tambor, has decided not to return to the series after accusations of sexual harassment.

Tambor said in a statement: “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 politicised atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”

Tambor was accused by his former assistant and transgender actress Van Barnes and another actor on the show, Trace Lysette, of inappropriate behaviour.

Variety has reported that the team behind Transparent began immediate plans to continue the show without Tambor for season five after the allegations became apparent. It is stated that no final decision about the next season has yet been made by Amazon.

Tambor admitted that he may have been a difficult colleague while on set but vehemently denies harassment rumours.

He said: “I know I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with. I can be volatile and ill-tempered, and too often I express my opinions harshly and without tact, but I have never been a predator – ever.”

His exit mirrors that of Kevin Spacey from Netflix. The actor’s performance as a scheming politician in House of Cards is considered to be a defining factor in establishing the SVOD service as a major player in the original content business, just as Tambor’s has done for Amazon Prime Video.