Jeffrey Tambor, Kasia Ostlun,

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'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' STARS SUPPORTS JEFFREY TAMBOR DURING THE SERIES' SEASON FIVE PREMIERE

The creator and executive producer of "Arrested Development" acknowledges that some people will not like his decision to keep actor Jeffrey Tambor in the show after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced last October.   

"Good people will find this offensive," explained Mitchell Hurwitz. "I too get worked up when I hear about Harvey Weinstein and other people who have taken advantage of people. But I also believe very strongly that we don't want to live in a world where accusations ruin people's lives. We have tried that as a human race and it doesn't always, doesn't work out great, you know? So accusations are very different than proof and, you know, we obviously are going to support people that haven't done, that haven't been proved guilty."

Hurwitz said production was nearly wrapped on season five when news broke of the allegations made by Tambor's former assistant and an actress on his other show, "Transparent."

"Not only do I support him as a friend, but I've known him for 20 years. I've worked with him for 20 years and I've never seen any behavior like that described. I've never, even in private he's never been in any way inappropriate about, we don't talk about women or objectify. It's just not who he is and he's a lot of things that I'd like to list, a lot of really bad qualities I'd like to list for you now, but nowhere in there, in my experience, is any kind of creep," said Hurwitz.

The "Arrested Development" cast unanimously supported the 73-year-old actor at the Los Angeles premiere for the cult comedy's new season. The event also marked one of the first public appearances for Tambor in recent months.

"It's great to have everybody. No, it's great to have everybody here, you know? We are a family and it's great to have everybody in the family here," said co-star Will Arnett.

Tambor denies the misconduct claims that led to his firing on Amazon's "Transparent" earlier this year. His "Arrested Development" co-stars said they could only speak to their own experiences with the Emmy-winning actor.   

"All I know about is 'Arrested Development' and he's always just been incredible with us and I'm really looking forward to seeing him tonight," Jason Bateman said on his was into the screening.

"My experience with Jeffrey has been nothing but respectful," echoed Tony Hale. "And he is such a funny man. He's so talented and he's an integral part of the show and just my experience has been nothing but respectful. I was not, I don't have information on that other… But like, if I'm speaking from my perspective, it's been nothing but respectful."

Tambor posed for photos with his wife Kasia Ostlun but did not do interviews with the press.

Actor-comedian David Cross was one of the first "Arrested Development" stars to speak out publicly in support of Tambor.  

"I'll say what I've said before, I've said my piece. I stand by it. I support him as a friend and a person. I don't condone any of those, that kind of behavior, but I support my friend," Cross said on the red carpet.

"Love Jeffrey!" said Portia de Rossi. "I've always loved Jeffrey and we support him and adore him and, yeah, he's terrific."

When asked about Tambor remaining in season five, Jessica Walter, who plays his wife, simply said, "The family is the family. You can't cut anybody out nor would we ever want to. It is what it is."

For Alia Shawkat, who has known Tambor for many years and supports the women of the #MeToo movement, the situation is not cut and dry.  

"Well, it's a very complicated issue, obviously. I'm very close to Jeffrey and I care about him a lot. I just don't think it has to completely be so one or the other. It's a complicated time, but I'm hoping that as this revolution progresses that we get more involved in the specifics of things and, you know, I support him being on the show, but I also support the voices of the victims at the same time," she explained.

Shawkat acknowledged that other men in Hollywood who have faced harassment claims did not receive a second chance.

"I think it depends on the case, obviously. There's specifics for each thing. And there's lots of people involved. I think the public has their own idea and it's a lot easier to write on Twitter something directly than actually being involved in something that's a lot bigger than that. You know, wasn't my choice. I'm an actor on the show. So I can't say one way or the other. I just hope that we continue to evolve and not forget about what all this means," Shawkat said.

Tambor has denied the harassment claims and said he was "profoundly disappointed" in how Amazon handled the matter.

The fifth season of Netflix's "Arrested Development" streams May 29 on Netflix.

Los Angeles, 17 May 2018

1. Jeffrey Tambor and wife Kasia Ostlun pose for photos

2. Mitchell Hurwitz speaks to reporter

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Hurwitz, Creator-Executive Producer - on his decision to keep Jeffrey Tambor in season five of "Arrested Development":

"I hate to even call it a decision. Jeffrey is a part of the show. We shot the whole show before the accusations came out."

Reporter: "So you were wrapped?"

Mitchell Hurwitz: "We were wrapped. I think it was our last day or maybe our second-to-last day. We owed a couple of scenes, so we did come back like two months later and shot the Ben Stiller stuff and things like that. But for the most part it was the very end of our production. And, you know as I've said now, not only do I support him as a friend, but I've known him for 20 years. I've worked with him for 20 years and I've never seen any behavior like that described. I've never, even in private he's never been in any way inappropriate about, we don't talk about women or objectify. It's just not who he is and he's a lot of things that I'd like to list, a lot of really bad qualities I'd like to list for you now, but nowhere in there, in my experience, is any kind of creep."

Reporter: "Have you had to deal with any criticism or backlash or are you worried about dealing with criticism and backlash?"

Mitchell Hurwitz: "No, I mean I'm sure, you know, good people will find this offensive. You know what I mean? And I really mean good people. I too get worked up when I hear about Harvey Weinstein and other people who have taken advantage of people. But I also believe very strongly that we don't want to live in a world where accusations ruin people's lives. We have tried that as a human race and it doesn't always, doesn't work out great, you know? So accusations are very different than proof and, you know, we obviously are going to support people that haven't done, that haven't been proved guilty. That's my belief anyway."

4. Wide of the "Arrested Development" cast posing for photos

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Arnett, Actor - on Tambor's attendance:

"It's great to have everybody. No, it's great to have everybody here, you know? We are a family and it's great to have everybody in the family here."

6. Zoom in on Jason Bateman and Jeffrey Tambor hugging

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Bateman, Actor - on Tambor remaining in season five after misconduct allegations:

"Well, yeah, I mean all I know about is 'Arrested Development' and he's always just been incredible with us and I'm really looking forward to seeing him tonight."

8. Zoom in on Portia de Rossi hugging Jeffrey Tambor

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Portia de Rossi, Actress:

"Love Jeffrey! I've always loved Jeffrey and we support him and adore him and, yeah, he's terrific."

10. Jeffrey Tambor poses for photos

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Cross, Actor:

"I'll say what I've said before, I've said my piece. I stand by it. I support him as a friend and a person. I don't condone any of those, that kind of behavior, but I support my friend."

12. Jessica Walter poses for photos

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jessica Walter, Actress:

"You know something? The family is the family. You can't cut anybody out nor would we ever want to. It is what it is."

14. Tony Hale speaks to reporters

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Hale, Actor:

"I mean, my experience with Jeffrey has been nothing but respectful. And he is such a funny man. He's so talented and he's an integral part of the show and just my experience has been nothing but respectful. I was not, I don't have information on that other… But like, if I'm speaking from my perspective, it's been nothing but respectful."

16. Alia Shawkat poses for photos

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Alia Shawkat, Actress:

"Well, it's a very complicated issue, obviously. I'm very close to Jeffrey and I care about him a lot. I just don't think it has to completely be so one or the other. It's a complicated time, but I'm hoping that as this revolution progresses that we get more involved in the specifics of things and, you know, I support him being on the show, but I also support the voices of the victims at the same time."

18. Alia Shawkat speaks to reporters

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Alia Shawkat, Actress - on how others who have faced misconduct allegations were not given second chances:

"I think it depends on the case, obviously. There's specifics for each thing. And there's lots of people involved. I think the public has their own idea and it's a lot easier to write on Twitter something directly than actually being involved in something that's a lot bigger than that. You know, wasn't my choice. I'm an actor on the show. So I can't say one way or the other. I just hope that we continue to evolve and not forget about what all this means."

20. Jeffrey Tambor and wife Kasia Ostlun pose for photos and walk away