Netflix announces the news in a statement which reads, 'At this time we have decided not to move ahead with promotional activity in the U.K. but hope to bring the cast back at another time.'
- May 25, 2018
AceShowbiz - Netflix bosses have cancelled the Arrested Development U.K. press tour amid the backlash over a New York Times chat with the cast this week, beg May 21.
Actress Jessica Walter tearfully recalled the bad behaviour of Jeffrey Tambor - her husband on the show - during the cast interview, prompting co-star Tony Hale and Jason Bateman to play down the embattled actor's angry on set outbursts, suggesting that was part of his "process".
Both have since apologised for attempting to minimise Walter's complaint, and it appears Netflix bosses don't want a repeat of the drama, and so they're pulled a planned U.K. press tour.
"At this time we have decided not to move ahead with promotional activity in the U.K. but hope to bring the cast back at another time," a statement reads.
Tambor was fired from Amazon drama Transparent at the beginning of 2018 following allegations of sexual and other forms of harassment on the set, but he returned for Netflix's fifth season of Arrested Development, which debuts on the streaming service on 29 May.
Walter's remarks came after she was asked if she'd experienced her TV husband's bad behaviour on set.
She explained he had verbally abused her, adding, "In... almost 60 years of working, I’ve never had anybody yell at me like that on a set".
The actress also explained she and Tambor had reconciled and she wouldn't hesitate to work with him again, because he's a great actor. Bateman attempted to defend his absent castmate, insisting his conduct was "part of his process", adding, "In the entertainment industry it is incredibly common to have people who are... difficult... It is a breeding ground for atypical behaviour, and certain people have certain processes".
On Thursday he apologised, stating, "I sound like I'm condoning yelling at work. I do not. It sounds like I'm excusing Jeffrey. I do not. It sounds like I'm insensitive to Jessica, I am not. This is a big learning moment for me. I shouldn't have tried so hard to mansplain, or fix a fight, or make everything OK".