This is definitely not the type of promotion Netflix wanted leading up to the fifth season of “Arrested Development.” After the poor reception to season 4 of the comedy, Netflix, and the show’s creator Mitch Hurwitz, surprised everyone with a “remixed” version of last season and the announcement that the cast was triumphantly returning for a fifth season. However, since that announcement, all the talk surrounding the upcoming season seems to revolve around Jeffrey Tambor.
The troubled actor has been at the center of various abuse claims (both sexual and verbal) from cast members who have worked with him in the past. From reports of verbal abuse and sexual harassment on the set of “Transparent” to blowups during the filming of “Arrested Development,” Tambor is a bit of a controversy lightning rod.
Recently, the New York Times had an interview with the cast of the Netflix comedy, and during the discussion, Tambor’s indiscretions were brought up. Co-star Jessica Walter became emotional when describing verbal abuse she experienced from the actor. That’s when Jason Bateman began to show his support for Tambor, saying that the abuse was “part of his process” and that “we all have our moments.”
The Internet was not happy with Bateman’s response, and the actor quickly found himself in hot water. So, today, the actor went to Twitter to apologize to Walter and explain how it happened.
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Bateman says that after he listened to the interview and read comments, “…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.”
“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!” he continues.
“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,” said Bateman.
He concludes by saying, “I deeply, and sincerely, apologize.”
Bateman, Tambor, and Walter all return in new episodes of “Arrested Development” that hit Netflix on May 29.
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