Jeffrey Tambor’s ex-assistant is speaking out for the first time since accusing her former boss of sexual misconduct.
Van Barnes, 42, who worked with Tambor for two years said the actor fostered an ‘extremely volatile’ work environment and said she was subjected to sexual and physical harassment, verbal abuse and abuse of power in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Barnes also rejected Tambor’s claim that Amazon’s investigation was ‘deeply flawed’ and for the first time publicly detailed his alleged misconduct. In the past her allegations were only referred to as ‘inappropriate behavior’.
Ex-assistant to Jeffrey Tambor, Van Barnes, 42 (pictured), who worked with Tambor for two years said the actor fostered an ‘extremely volatile’ work environment and said she was subjected to sexual and physical harassment, verbal abuse and abuse of power
She told the news outlet that the Emmy-winning star (left and right) often threw temper tantrums and tossed ‘demeaning insults’ her way, and patted her on the butt amid suggestions of an affair
She told the news outlet that the Emmy-winning star often threw temper tantrums and tossed ‘demeaning insults’ her way, and patted her on the butt amid suggestions of an affair.
Barnes said that she tried to report Tambor’s behavior to his personal management team at the Burstein Company, but nothing ever came of it, so she quit in January 2017.
Amazon’s investigation into Tambor’s behavior began in November after allegations from Barnes and actress Trace Lysette, who said he got ‘physical’ with her on set, and once thrust his penis against her body.
Tambor, 73, previously dismissed Barnes’s allegations as ‘baseless.’
Barnes (left and right) , who is transgender, said she reported Tambor’s behavior to his personal management team at the Burstein Company, but nothing ever came of it, so she quit in January 2017
Tambor, 73 (pictured, on ‘Transparent’) previously dismissed Barnes’s allegations as ‘baseless’. He was officially fired earlier this month at the end of the investigation launched by Amazon
He was officially fired earlier this month at the end of the investigation. In aa statement to The Hollywood Reporter he was ‘profoundly disappointed’ in the way Amazon handled the allegations.
‘For Mr Tambor to now characterize this investigation as “biased” and “politicized” is an insult to the numerous people he had worked with through the years who were forced to participate in an investigation created by his own actions,’ Barnes said.
‘Mr Tambor’s lengthy abuse and harassment of me continues to haunt me and is a clear indication of how we got to this point.’
Barnes, who is transgender, said she found no joy in Tambor’s firing, though, because ‘Transparent’ had provided jobs to many transgender people in the industry and his actions put those jobs in jeopardy.
However she said she found his firing ‘just.
‘He has done this to himself,’ she said. ‘It is highly unfortunate that Mr Tambor has chosen to lash out at myself, Jill Soloway, and others, rather than accept accountability for his actions.’