Jason Bateman 'deeply sorry' for defending Jeffrey Tambor's 'verbal harassment' in Arrested Development interview

Bateman sparked backlash for calling the industry 'a breeding ground' for such behaviour

Jason Bateman has issued an apology for defending Jeffrey Tambor as their Arrested Development co-star Jessica Walter recalled him verbally harassing her on set through tears in a recent interview.

Walter - who plays Bluth matriarch Lucille in the sitcom - was partaking in a group interview with Bateman, Tambor, Tony Hale, David Cross, Will Arnett and Alia Shawkat when she broke down remembering the incident. Instead of reassuring her, Bateman can be heard suggesting Tambor's behaviour is “common” in the entertainment industry, deeming it “a breeding ground for atypical behaviour.”

Words spoke by Bateman, Cross and Hale - the latter of whom has also issued an apology - have since caused a backlash leading the actor to apologise in a series of social media posts.

“Based on listening to the NYT interview and hearing people’s thoughts online, I realise that I was wrong here,” he wrote. “I'm horrified that I wasn’t more aware of how this incident affected her.”

He added: “I’m incredibly embarrassed and deeply sorry to have done that to Jessica. This is a big learning moment for me. I deeply, and sincerely, apologise.”

Walter's male co-stars have drawn criticism for failing to reassure their crying co-star. Instead, they attempt to explain away the upset caused by Tambor who was fired from the lead role of TV show Transparent earlier this year following claims of similar behaviour.

The only person who wades in is Shawkat who responded to Bateman's aforementioned comments, saying: “But that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. And the point is that things are changing, and people need to respect each other differently.”

Walter has since cancelled her interviews running in conjunction with the return of Arrested Development which arrives on Netflix on 28 May.

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