It has only been slightly more than a week — after Jeffrey Tambor's former assistant accused the actor of sexual harassment — but the Transparent star is now facing the second allegation of sexual harassment.
This time, however, actress Trace Lysette — who has worked with Tambor, 73, on Amazon's comedy TV show as a guest star — has claimed that at one point on the set, during a break from filming, he pressed himself against her in a "sexually aggressive manner".
Lysette plays the role of yoga instructor Shea on Transparent.
According to a statement by Lysette and published by Deadline — which first reported the news — the actor made "lewd, sexually suggestive, and unwelcomed" comments towards her "on a number of occasions".
During a scene when Lysette's character was to come out in underwear, Tambor remarked, "My God, Trace. I want to attack you sexually," The Hollywood Reporter said.
Alexandra Billings — a third actor in that particular scene — was close enough to listen to the actor's comment and confirmed the validity of the claim. They "laughed it off because it was so absurd," Lysette commented.
Amazon — the company behind the successful comedy series — has already launched a probe into the sexual harassment allegations made by Tambor's ex-assistant Van Barnes. It subsequently noted that the new developments will be considered in the current investigation.
On the other hand, Emmy Award-winning Tambor — denying the accusations — told Variety that he has not "been a predator — ever".
"For the past four years, I've had the huge privilege — and huge responsibility – of playing Maura Pfefferman, a transgender woman, in a show that I know has had an enormous, positive impact on a community that has been too long dismissed and misunderstood," the statement reads.
"Now, I find myself accused of behavior that any civilized person would condemn unreservedly," it continued.
"I know I haven't always been the easiest person to work with. I can be volatile and ill-tempered, and too often I express my opinions harshly and without tact."
"I am deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive or if I ever offended or hurt anyone. But the fact is, for all my flaws, I am not a predator and the idea that someone might see me in that way is more distressing than I can express."
Interestingly, however, Lysette says she wants Amazon to "remove the problem" from Transparent and "let the show go on".
Rumours abound that the character of Maura Pfefferman may consequently be written out of the show.
The whole debacle becomes even more noteworthy considering the fact that Roy Price — the former president of Amazon Studios — was let go from the company after accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against him surfaced.
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