Jeff Garlin, the star of the ABC comedy series The Goldbergs, is speaking out in response to allegations that he acted unprofessionally on the set of the hit show.
Vanity Fair began an investigation into rumors that he was fired from the show and neither his rep or the production company responded to the reporter. Then, Jeff himself contacted the reporter to talk openly about the allegations.
It was alleged that Jeff contributed to a demeaning work culture and “engaged in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on set that made people uncomfortable.”
One source told the outlet, “He got away with it because he would call himself out for it—saying he was a big teddy bear, saying things like, ‘Oh you know me, just a big bowl of mush, I’m a hugger. I just love you.’”
Click inside to find out what Jeff Garlin said in response to the allegations…
Jeff responded to an allegation of a incident between him and a stand-in “that was both physical and verbal.” He denies that anything physical occurred and says he’s known both the stand-in and his wife for years.
“The verbal part was a joke that was completely missed—because I like this guy. I like his wife. I’ve worked with them for years. How I suddenly wake up one day and I don’t like them—I don’t get that. I will say the joke was missed and I apologize to him. If someone misses a joke, that’s unfortunate to me. I don’t like it,” Jeff said. “When I say it was completely silly, it was—and it was misconstrued, but there was nothing physical.”
Jeff denies that there’s any story surrounding his behavior.
“Well, to be honest with you, there is no story. And I’m saying that in all sincerity, because that’s the thing that has me confused. Even with Sony—we have a difference of opinion, Sony and myself. Okay. My opinion is, I have my process about how I’m funny, in terms of the scene and what I have to do. They feel that it makes for a quote ‘unsafe’ workspace. Now, mind you, my silliness making an unsafe workspace—I don’t understand how that is. And I’m on a comedy show. I am always a kind and thoughtful person. I make mistakes, sure. But my comedy is about easing people’s pain. Why would I ever want to cause pain in anybody for a laugh? That’s bullying. That’s just uncalled for,” he said.
Jeff did admit that HR has investigated his behavior for the past three years. He said, “There has been an HR investigation on me the past three years. HR has come to me three years in a row for my behavior on set.”
A Sony Pictures Television spokesperson responded to the story by telling People, “The well-being of our cast and crew is of utmost importance to us. This is an employment matter and it is being addressed by HR and production.”
Read the full interview on VanityFair.com.
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