Bateman previously defended Tambor, who was accused of verbal harassing co-star Jessica Walter on the set of the Netflix comedy.
- May 25, 2018
AceShowbiz - Jason Bateman is "deeply sorry" for appearing to excuse "Arrested Development" co-star Jeffrey Tambor's on-set behaviour after Jessica Walter accused him of verbal harassment.
The cast of the Netflix comedy sat down with the New York Times for a group interview, during which they were asked about Jeffrey's behaviour on set, in the wake of him being let go from TV show "Transparent" over sexual harassment allegations.
Jessica, who plays his onscreen wife, tearfully said she had been verbally harassed by Jeffrey, who lashed out at her. Jeffrey, who recently confessed to losing his temper on set, was open about his "unconscionable" behaviour and said he apologised to her, while Jason repeatedly interjected, saying he wasn't trying to "belittle" Jessica's story, but claimed Jeffrey's actions are common in the entertainment industry.
The "Horrible Bosses" actor received backlash online for seemingly trying to condone or excuse his co-star's behaviour, and he issued a lengthy statement on Twitter on Thursday, May 24 in which he insisted he was not doing those things, despite how it sounds.
"I'm horrified that I wasn't more aware of how this incident affected her," he tweeted. "I was so eager to let Jeffrey know that he was supported in his attempt to learn, grow and apologise that I completely underestimated the feelings of the victim, another person I deeply love - and she was sitting right there!
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.
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
"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."
... 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.
Jason, who admitted he "was wrong", continued to apologise for failing to say there is no excuse for abuse in any form. He added, "And, the victim's voice needs to be heard and respected. Period... I deeply, and sincerely, apologise."
One of Jason's detractors following his interview was actor Thomas Sadoski, who shared a picture of him with Jessica on Instagram and wrote in the caption that screaming at someone in the workplace isn't acceptable, and trying to excuse that "unhinged bulls**t" behaviour was "pathetic".
"And it is even less acceptable for his male cast-mates to excuse it away In front of the person that it happened to....(wait for it)....While she is trying to explain how traumatizing the experience was," he concluded.