Ahead of next week’s premiere of the latest season of “Arrested Development,” the New York Times’ Sopan Deb sat down with several cast members and discussed, among other things, an incident in which Jeffrey Tambor berated Jessica Walter, who plays his on-screen wife:
NEW: Spent an hour with the cast of Arrested Development yesterday — with Jeffrey Tambor present. The conversation turned emotional as the subject of Tambor's on-set behavior came up.
Encourage you to read the whole thing:https://t.co/GKD3aWsS0b
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
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."
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
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
Also striking: Jason Bateman, several times, said Tambor's behavior on set was normal in show business.
Jessica Walter interjected: "You’ve never yelled at me like that."
Again, with Tambor sitting right there. pic.twitter.com/LlLN22LVx2
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
I'll also note this exchange:
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.
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
This is the Jessica Walter quote on Tambor that stuck with me. Both when it happened yesterday and today.
"In like almost 60 years of working, I’ve never had anybody yell at me like that on a set."
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 23, 2018
Many readers were shocked — not to mention disappointed — that co-stars Jason Bateman and Tony Hale seemed dismissive of Walter’s hurt, which even years later is still very raw.
The pushback by Jessica Walter and Alia Shawkat against the blatant dudes-excusing-other-dudes’-bad-behavior in this sitdown makes me respect both actors even more (which I truly didn’t think was possible). https://t.co/Vl8IgwXRc3
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) May 23, 2018
Agreed.
And it made me side-eye Jason Bateman. He’s so quick to jump in to defend Tambor’s behavior towards Jessica Walter that he completely talks over how SHE feels about the experience.
Bateman at one point even says to Walter: “I didn’t mean to speak for you.” ? https://t.co/2s313pixMn
— Sarah Quinlan (@sarahmquinlan) 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
Jason Bateman actually says, in front of a woman who was “verbally harassed” (her words) by a cast mate, that it’s “narrow” to focus on that. Like it’s no big deal & shouldn’t be treated as a big deal.
The woman is sitting there in tears.
Yet he still says this & makes excuses. pic.twitter.com/A7BNZGmomv
— Sarah Quinlan (@sarahmquinlan) May 23, 2018
Jessica Walter made her screen debut before most of the other Arrested Development cast members were born, yet here they are talking over her to explain set dynamics.
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) May 23, 2018
Here’s audio of Jessica Walter CRYING, standing up for herself after all the men in the AD cast try to gaslight her into thinking Tambor’s harassment isn’t THAT bad. This is horrific. pic.twitter.com/innJv8LIYF
— Kevin T. Porter (@KevinTPorter) May 23, 2018
Well, apparently the pushback got to Bateman, because this morning, he tweeted out a lengthy apology:
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
Hale tweeted this as well:
I have reached out to Jessica personally to apologize. Arrested Development is one of my families. Regardless of my intentions, it is clear that my words, both said and unsaid, served to minimize Jessica’s pain and for that I am extremely sorry.
— Tony Hale (@MrTonyHale) May 24, 2018
Shame that it took a New York Times article to prompt apologies … but better late than never, we suppose.
