Van Barnes is the first of three women to accuse Jeffrey Tambor of sexual misconduct and she shared new details of the Emmy-winning actor’s alleged harassment during a Wednesday appearance on “Megyn Kelly Today”.
In the interview, Barnes — who worked as Tambor’s assistant for two years — alleged that Tambor admitted to her that he watched her sleep naked and propositioned her when it was time to negotiate her contract.
Barnes told Kelly that the fired “Transparent” star would repeatedly ask, “Why haven’t we slept together?” She estimated that he made similar comments several times a week. “It wasn’t just a one-time joke,” Barnes added.
Admitting she “would always deflect these comments,” she said that became more difficult to do over time.
“It ran the gamut of sexual harassment, physical harassment and verbal abuse, constantly,” Barnes said. “This all really falls under the problem Hollywood has right now with this abuse of power and misogyny.”
At the start of “Transparent”, revealed Barnes, she and Tambor briefly lived together while Tambor sought a place to stay, a situation she now describes in hindsight as “very suspicious.”
She recalled a conversation in which she told Tambor. “I’m not comfortable with my body,” which led Tambor to respond that he’d already seen her naked while she was asleep, describing details of how she slept.
“That’s violating, it’s so creepy,” Barnes said. “This is a man I put my trust in.”
After news broke that Tambor would not be returning for the next season of “Transparent” due to the results of an internal investigation into the allegations, series creator Jill Soloway addressed the situation in a statement.
“I have great respect and admiration for Van Barnes and Trace Lysette, whose courage in speaking out about their experience on ‘Transparent’ is an example of the leadership this moment in our culture requires,” read the first part of the statement. “We are grateful to the many trans people who have supported our vision for ‘Transparent’ since its inception and remain heartbroken about the pain and mistrust their experience has generated in our community. We are taking definitive action to ensure our workplace respects the safety and dignity of every individual, and are taking steps to heal as a family.”
Tambor, however, continues to deny all allegations. “I am profoundly disappointed in Amazon’s handling of these false accusations against me,” Tambor said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “I am even more disappointed in Jill Soloway’s unfair characterization of me as someone who would ever cause harm to any of my fellow cast mates. In our four-year history of working together on this incredible show, these accusations have NEVER been revealed or discussed directly with me or anyone at Amazon. Therefore, I can only surmise that the investigation against me was deeply flawed and biased toward the toxic politicized atmosphere that afflicted our set.”
Tambor added: “As I have consistently stated, I deeply regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone and I will continue to vehemently defend myself. I also deeply regret that this groundbreaking show, which changed so many lives, is now in jeopardy. That, to me, is the biggest heartbreak.”
You can watch Barnes’ interview in its entirety above.
