Jeffrey Tambor Is Not Being ‘Transparent’ About Whether He Will Remain On The Show
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
A Los Angeles family is rocked by the revelation that the person they knew as their father Mort is a transgender woman named Maura, in the critically acclaimed Amazon show “Transparent.”
The show was a liberal wet dream, full of sensitively handled gender exploration and nuanced portrayals of Jewish life. But the bubble burst when its star, Jeffrey Tambor, previously known for his work on “Arrested Development,” was accused of sexual harassment by his personal assistant and by Trace Lysette, a co-star who is actually transgender.
Audiences girded themselves for Tambor’s departure after an interview with Deadline in which he said “I don’t see how I can return.” Oddly, a representative for Tambor recently told the New York Times that the actor had no plans to quit.
In the midst of something revolutionary — a show that was advancing the cause of transgender people and creating palpable change by representing transgender people on screen — something ugly was bubbling.
Now audiences may have to contend with Maura Pfefferman on screen again, whether they want to or not.
Shira Feder is a writer for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected]
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