On Wednesday, the New York Times published its interview with the cast of Arrested Development where Jason Bateman defends Jeffrey Tambor‘s alleged temperamental behavior, and Jessica Walter cries over his alleged verbal abuse on the set of their show.
(In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tambor had brought up a “blowout” he had with Walter.)
In this Q&A with The Times — which also included cast members David Cross, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, and Will Arnett — Bateman seemed to justify his TV dad’s “temper” after being asked how likely the cast would be to hire someone with admitted anger issues.
Related: Michael Rapaport Passionately Defends Tambor
The 49-year-old said:
“Again, not to belittle it or excuse it or anything, but in the entertainment industry it is incredibly common to have people who are, in quotes, ‘difficult.’… And when you’re in a privileged position to hire people, or have an influence in who does get hired, you make phone calls├óΓé¼┬ª And you learn about character and you learn about work habits, work ethics, and you start to understand├óΓé¼┬ª It’s a weird thing, and it is a breeding ground for atypical behavior and certain people have certain processes.”
Then, Walter — “through tears” according the publication — revealed the alleged verbal abuse she experienced from Tambor:
“Let me just say one thing that I just realized in this conversation… I have to let go of being angry at him. He never crossed the line on our show, with any, you know, sexual whatever. Verbally, yes, he harassed me, but he did apologize. I have to let it go. And I have to give you [Tambor] a chance to, you know, for us to be friends again├óΓé¼┬ª But it’s hard because honestly ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ Jason says this happens all the time. In like almost 60 years of working, I’ve never had anybody yell at me like that on a set. And it’s hard to deal with, but I’m over it now. I just let it go right here, for The New York Times.”
Earlier in the interview, Tambor said he had “profusely… apologized” to her, and even called her “a walking acting lesson.” Walter also says she would not have brought it up had Tambor not already done so and that she’d worked with him again in a heartbeat.
As we reported in February, Tambor was fired from Transparent after he was accused of sexual harassment on the set in November 2017. He denies all the allegations.
In early May, Netflix confirmed that Tambor will appear in season 5 of Arrested Development.
After the New York Times piece went viral, social media users SLAMMED Bateman’s “loyalty” towards Tambor, while revering “beloved” Walters.
Read all the reactions (below):
Jessica Walter actually cries in this interview about how terrible Jeffrey Tambor was to her and her male co-stars go to extraordinary lengths to comfort and defend…Tambor. FFS. https://t.co/1bv4JHesW2
— Marin Cogan (@marincogan) May 23, 2018
Minimizing and normalizing everyday abuse is how we got to the moment we’re in right now. Changing the culture requires more than firing a few men. It requires asking why Jason Bateman feels the need to imply that verbal abuse is just something *everyone* does on set
— Emma Gray (@emmaladyrose) May 23, 2018
At best Jason Bateman’s loyalty has made him tone deaf. At worst he’s showing an abuser’s justification for abusive behaviour.
In between those two extremes is a truly w o e f u l underestimation of how beloved Jessica Walter is by the rest of us
— Nutella Enchanted (@chrisopotamia) May 23, 2018
Nobody should care what Jason Bateman has to say about the way Jeffrey Tambor treated Jessica Walter.
EVERYBODY should care what Jessica Walter has to say about the way she was treated by Jeffrey Tambor.
— Gord Macey (@GordMacey) May 23, 2018
Three trans women have accused Jeffrey Tambor of inappropriate sexual behavior and on set conduct; Jessica Walter has accused him of screaming at her in a way she’s never experienced in 60 years but Jason Bateman, Tony Hale, Will Arnett and David Cross are too ready to defend him
— Stuart Ross (@WStuartross) May 23, 2018
It just drives me up the wall to see Jason Bateman and David Cross trip over themselves to defend Jeffrey Tambor over an incident that they weren’t the target of, when Jessica Walter is sitting right there
— Ostrich (@flickeringICE) May 23, 2018
I was very excited to watch the new season but this is inexcusable and I’m so disappointed in jason bateman and david cross in particular.
— tatiana tenreyro (@tatianatenreyro) May 23, 2018
[Image via Dave Bedrosian/Future Image/WENN.]
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