Jason Bateman apologized for defending Jeffrey Tambor at the expense of Jessica Walter after an incident on the set of "Arrested Development."
Tambor, 73, and Walter, 77, play the Bluth parents on the Netflix series; Tambor previously admitted to -- and apologized for -- verbally abusing Walter in a particularly unpleasant moment.
The New York Times brought it up again in a new interview with the cast promoting Season 5, in relation to the other allegations against Jeffrey Tambor that led to his "Transparent" firing.
It's clear that the male cast members in attendance were very much interested in defending Jeffrey Tambor and minimizing what happened in the past. Jessica Walter said she was trying to get over her anger at Jeffrey Tambor so they could be friends again. However, it was obvious that what happened -- at least to her -- was not nothing.
The NY Times interviewer mentioned at one point that Jessica Walter was speaking through tears, recalling the worst someone had yelled at her in her 60-year career.
You could tell it frustrated her when the guys joked away and rationalized Tambor's behavior, dominating the conversation and making it about themselves and their support for Tambor. Alia Shawkat (Maeby) is the only one who spoke up against verbal abuse, which was noted by readers. She, too, seemed to be ignored.
Walter made it clear that Tambor never sexually harassed her, but Tambor has admitted he can be "difficult," and he acknowledged he went too far in his on-set anger with Walter.
Here's New York Times writer Sopan Deb with the story, and reaction from readers, followed by Bateman's apology:
In a striking exchange, Jessica Walter teared up, with Tambor sitting a few feet away: "Verbally, yes, he harassed me, but he did apologize. I have to let it go."
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
She turned to Tambor: "And I have to give you a chance to, you know, for us to be friends again." pic.twitter.com/52smZ08aT7
Jessica Walter, through tears, on Jeffrey Tambor: "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." https://t.co/D2RgKvQ4WF
— Liam Stack (@liamstack) May 23, 2018
This is the Jessica Walter quote on Tambor that stuck with me. Both when it happened yesterday and today.
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
"In like almost 60 years of working, I've never had anybody yell at me like that on a set."
Also striking: Jason Bateman, several times, said Tambor's behavior on set was normal in show business.
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
Jessica Walter interjected: "You've never yelled at me like that."
Again, with Tambor sitting right there. pic.twitter.com/LlLN22LVx2
I'll also note this exchange:
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
TONY HALE: But I will say, to Jason's point, we can be honest about the fact that — and not to build a thing — we've all had moments.
JESSICA WALTER: But not like that, not like that. That was bad.
JESSICA WALTER: I want you to say in the article, there's so much testosterone in this room. pic.twitter.com/tIvxPX48nu
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
What strikes about this exchange is how many times Jessica Walter has to clarify and reiterate that no one has ever spoken to her as inexcusably as Jeffrey Tambor has, because the rest of the cast repeatedly interrupts her to downplay it. https://t.co/7eB3sEo0aE
— Kevin Fallon (@kpfallon) May 23, 2018
It is absolutely brutal to read this. Walter clearly was unloading something important to her, and the dudes were just drowning her out. https://t.co/xdlRdFlQB7
— The Un-Co-Optable (@TJHawke411) May 23, 2018
Great interview. I learned two things about a show I love.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) May 23, 2018
1) What a tough, mature, graceful person Jessica Walter is.
2) All the men, esp Jason Bateman, are shockingly dismissive of Walter's awful treatment by Jeffrey Tambor. Way to mansplain her situation, guys. https://t.co/MVUswlBMVm
the most relatable part about this interview is that part where jessica walter says she has to "let go" at being angry at Tambor for his verbal abuse, which is a position women constantly find themselves in to move forward with their lives and career: https://t.co/PI1CoNM3RO
— Ann-Marie Alcántara (@itstheannmarie) May 23, 2018
Alia Shawkat only speaks twice in this transcript, for reasons that are perhaps explained by one of her comments. https://t.co/SOX8YtRRtR pic.twitter.com/OcHGaIuis0
— ryan teague beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) 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
Here's the part of that @nytimes #ArrestedDevelopment interview in which Jason Bateman, Tony Hale, and David Cross try to normalize Tambor's behavior while Jessica Walter sits there crying, telling them it was anything but normal. It's heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/Q79ltkivqU
— Rex Trillerson (@fuelbot) May 23, 2018
Since Jason Bateman was the one doing the most to elevate Tambor at Walter's expense, he was the first to apologize:
Based on listening to the NYT interview and hearing people's thoughts online, I realize that I was wrong here.
— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
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-
- horrified that I wasn't more aware of how this incident affected her.
— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
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..
... sitting right there!
— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
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...
...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.
— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) May 24, 2018
Period.
I didn't say that and instead said a bunch of other stuff and not very well.
I deeply, and sincerely, apologize.
"Arrested Development" Season 5 drops its first batch of episodes this coming Tuesday, May 29 on Netflix.
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