In case you missed it, it recently emerged that Arrested Development’s Jeffrey Tambor had been 'verbally abusive' to co-star Jessica Walter while they were working on the series.
In a NYT interview, Walter said that she had to “let go of being angry of him” and is “over it now.” However Jason Bateman, the lead on the Netflix show, has now come under fire.
Bateman was criticised for appearing to minimise and justify Tambor's past behaviour in the same interview, saying that it was common to work with “difficult” people in the entertainment industry and that he had “zero complaints.”
Today, the actor apologised for his words through a series of tweets, saying that he was “deeply sorry” to have “completely underestimated” the feelings of Walter, and that he was not “excusing Jeffrey” for what he did.
Tambor had sexual harassment claims brought against him in November last year.
Based on listening to the NYT interview and hearing people’s thoughts online, I realize that I was wrong here.
I sound like I’m condoning yelling at work. I do not.
It sounds like I’m excusing Jeffery. I do not.
It sounds like I’m insensitive to Jessica. I am not.
In fact, I’m-— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
- horrified that I wasn’t more aware of how this incident affected her.
I was so eager to let Jeffrey know that he was supported in his attempt to learn, grow and apologize that I completely underestimated the feelings of the victim, another person I deeply love - and she was..— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
... sitting right there!
I’m incredibly embarrassed and deeply sorry to have done that to Jessica. This is a big learning moment for me.
I shouldn’t have tried so hard to mansplain, or fix a fight, or make everything okay.
I should’ve focused more on what the most important...— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
...part of it all is - there’s never any excuse for abuse, in any form, from any gender. And, the victim’s voice needs to be heard and respected.
Period.I didn’t say that and instead said a bunch of other stuff and not very well.
I deeply, and sincerely, apologize.— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
