After allegations were made for three consecutive years to the human resources staff of The Goldbergs, Jeff Garlin is officially out. While Garlin stands by his exit as a voluntary choice, Sony and ABC report that Jeff Garlin has been let go amid inappropriate behavior allegations on the set. The ABC program will be using previously shot footage of Garlin to complete its ninth season, Variety reports.
In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Garlin claims that he was not fired. When asked to describe the scenario that led to the allegations, Garlin responds, “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.“
Attempting to get the facts of the story, the reporter asks the specifics of HR’s concern? “I’m not going to go over it because I don’t want to, but basically a lot of things that I disagree with—that are silly. If I said something silly and offensive, and I’m working at an insurance company, I think it’s a different situation. If I, as the star of the show, demanded a gun range and on set, and I was firing guns every day and I was a little bit loose—to me, that’s an unsafe work atmosphere. If I threatened people, that’s an unsafe work atmosphere. None of that goes on ever with me. That’s not who I am. I am sorry to tell you that there really is no big story. Unless you want to do a story about political correctness.”
The comedian addressed prior complaints in his 2019 Netflix standup special, Jeff Garlin: Our Man In Chicago, joking, “A lot of days on The Goldbergs, I sit in a Barcalounger in tighty whities for the whole day, and I think to myself, ‘Who did I bl-w to get this job?’” He adds that when he stands up from his easy chair, his standing joke is “‘Ah, my vagina. Ah, achy vagina. Ah, my vagina’s killing me.’”
He explains getting addressed by HR, continuing, “I get called in, and they go, ‘Look, you can’t do this.’ And I go, ‘Oh yes, I can.’ They go, ‘You might get fired.’ I go, ‘I’d love to be fired and have it hit the papers: Cover of TMZ: ‘Jeff Garlin Fired Because His Vagina Hurts.’” Concluding, “I’m on a comedy. I’m a comedian. Let’s get over. I don’t have a vagina. I think everyone knows that.”
HBO has made no comment of Jeff Garlin's role on as Jeff Greene on Curb Your Enthusiasm. You can see Jeff Garlin in the upcoming Damien Chazelle-directed Babylon starring alongside Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Tobey Maguire, Jean Smart and Spike Jonze.