Last month, he was accused by his former assistant, Van Barnes, of groping her and making sexually suggestive comments. Later, a co-star, Trace Lysette, also came forward with claims of sexual misconduct, alleging that Tambor had pressed his groin against her at one time, and also addressed her in lewd ways. A third woman, makeup artist Tamara Delbridge, claimed Tambor forcibly kissed her on the set of Never Again.

 

“I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with… I have never been a predator -- ever," Tambor said, denying the women's accounts. 

 

However, he seemed to admit that working on the series was no longer feasible.

 

“This is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago,” he said in a statement. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”

 

“I’ve already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive,” he added, “but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue.”

 

It was then reported that the show’s writing staff had been directed to find ways to create a fifth season without Tambor.

 

Well, as with any good TV show, there's a new twist. Tambor may not be leaving after all. The New York Times revealed that Tambor's rep denied the actor was moving on.

 

But now it appears that may be a bit premature: A representative for Tambor told the New York Times he has not made plans to leave the show.

 

"What he said was that given the toxic atmosphere and the politicization on the set, it’s very hard for him to see how he can possibly return," the spokesman argued. "But no final decision for next year has been made, either by Jeffrey or by Amazon.”

 

Amazon has not responded to the apparent change.

 

Maybe it won't be so bad when CGI can replace all human actors. At least none of this behind-the-scenes stuff will be an issue.