Amazon confirms that Jeffrey Tambor will not return to Transparent

The Emmy-winning dramedy Transparent is losing its main star, Amazon confirmed Thursday. Actor Jeffrey Tambor, who portrayed the transgender main character Maura Pfefferman, will not return to the show after being investigated for sexual harassment as Amazon declined to renew his contract.
Tambor's personal assistant Van Barnes first made the allegations against Tambor, followed by Tambor's Transparent co-star Trace Lysette in November. Tambor released two statements in response, expressing regret that his actions were "misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive" but denying any wrongdoing on his part. He also condemned the "politicized atmosphere" on the set of Transparent.
While all of the other cast members have been confirmed as returning to Transparent for its fifth season, the show will likely need to shift focus after losing the actor in its title role. It remains unclear how the show's plot will be affected by Tambor's dismissal, or whether this will be Transparent's last season.
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Jill Soloway, the creator of Transparent, expressed "respect and admiration" for Tambor's accusers, Vulture reported, and announced that the show will be "taking steps to heal as a family."
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Shivani is the editorial assistant at TheWeek.com and has previously written for StreetEasy and Mic.com. A graduate of the physics and journalism departments at NYU, Shivani currently lives in Brooklyn and spends free time cooking, watching TV, and taking too many selfies.
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