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Transparent Actress Trace Lysette Accuses Jeffrey Tambor of Sexual Harassment
He allegedly "physically pressed up against Lysette in a sexually aggressive manner."
Amidst an ongoing investigation by Amazon Studios into Jeffrey Tambor's conduct on the set of Transparent, his co-star Trace Lysette has come forward with allegations that the star sexually harassed her. The allegations come after claims made by his former assistant, Van Barnes, who said that Tambor "repeatedly propositioned her, made lewd comments, groped her and threatened to sue her if she spoke up," according to a private Facebook post.
In response to that, the actor, who plays transgender matriarch Maura Pfefferman on the hit show, called her a "a former disgruntled assistant" and "adamantly and vehemently" denied the "baseless" allegations.
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Now, as the investigation continues, Lysette, who plays transgender yoga instructor Shea on the show, has come out with allegations that Tambor made "lewd, sexually suggestive and unwelcomed remarks to her," according to a statement to Deadline. He also reportedly "physically pressed up against Lysette in a sexually aggressive manner during a break in filming." Lysette has called for Transparent creator Jill Soloway and Amazon Studios to "remove the problem and let the show go on."
In response to these fresh allegations, Tambor has released a statement admitting that he hasn't "always been the easiest person to work with," can be "volatile and ill-tempered," and expresses his opinions "harshly and without tact," but has "never been a predator--ever."
He continued: "I am deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive or if I ever offended or hurt anyone. But the fact is, for all my flaws, I am not a predator and the idea that someone might see me in that way is more distressing than I can express."
In response to the initial allegations by Barnes, Soloway put out a statement saying that she and the Transparent team "are cooperating with the investigation into this matter." She has not given an additional statement in light of the new allegations, but with Transparent currently not in production, there are talks of writing Maura out of the upcoming fifth season.
