Jeff Garlin exits The Goldbergs after misconduct complaints sparked an HR investigation

The Hollywood Reporter

Garlin and Sony Pictures Television have mutually decided that he should leave the ABC sitcom, effective immediately. The Goldbergs cast and crew were informed of his departure during production Wednesday, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Garlin's exit comes less than two weeks after Vanity Fair's Maureen Ryan detailed allegations of on-set misconduct from Garlin, who responded to the accusations in a lengthy interview with her. Deadline reports Garlin had one more day of shooting this season after a reduced schedule. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Garlin wasn't expected to return for a potential 10th season. This is The Goldbergs' second loss of a main cast member this year, following the death in March of George Segal. “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,” Garlin told Ryan in the interview published on Dec. 3. "As a comedian, if somebody is offended by what I say I, all I can say is, I’m sorry. Okay? I have never physically come at anyone, for any reason, so that I find terribly confusing and untrue,” Garlin said in the story when informed of reports that staffers on The Goldbergs felt demeaned and disrespected by some of his language and physical actions. Accusations against Garlin included engaging in a pattern of verbal and physical conduct on set that made people uncomfortable and screaming at the show's longtime stand-ins and putting his hands around a camera assistant and saying "vagina" after she filed a complaint over his repeated use of the word. After the Vanity Fair piece was published, Deadline's Nellie Andreeva says she was "contacted by a number of current and former co-workers of Garlin" who "spoke of a great work environment on the show where cast and crew members love each other, which would change dramatically on the days Garlin is on set." “He is extremely verbally and emotionally abusive,” a Goldbergs employee told Deadline. Reps for ABC, Sony TV and Garlin declined comment.