David Cross Gave A Clumsy Interview About The NYT “Arrested Development” Interview From Hell
May 25, 2018
You would think being married to one of the founders and most vocal proponents of the Time’s Up movement might have some added benefits such as, helping you develop a more nuanced understanding of sexual politics in the workplace, or, how to craft a winning apology. But apparently that’s not how it works in the Tamblyn-Cross household. David Cross is taking heat for his participation in that New York Times interview with the cast of Arrested Development that should have been called “How To Sink A Show Before It Even Airs”.
In what I guess was an attempt at damage control, David kept a scheduled interview about AD season 5 with Gothamist but used it as a platform to discuss Jeffrey Tambor’s on-set behavior and the subsequent post NYT interview fall-out. Did David give a nuanced understanding of sexual politics in the workplace or offer a winning apology? He did not. Did he mumble and stumble his way through it, insinuating that Jessica Walter was sometimes a pill too? Yes he did! It seems the only thing he’s learned from Amber Tamblyn, is to be a good boy and put down the Twitter when he’s told. Here’s what David had to say when asked if yesterday (the day the interview was published) was “a shit show”.
It was. My wife is very good about getting me off of Twitter when I need to be. So I saw all the stuff happening last night, and literally deleted the app from my home screen. So I don’t know exactly what’s going on. I do know the crux is that a lot of people are upset. And you know, I was in the room and I know that there’s an audiotape, and I’m assuming that it would make me cringe if I heard it.
I have been off Twitter at the behest of my wife. I have apologized to Jessica in private (the way I prefer to conduct apologies to people). I do not have a PR firm repping me. I hope this interview I did earlier is edifying on at least a tiny level. https://t.co/gXVgmJkdfj
— )))David Cross((( (@davidcrosss) May 24, 2018
David went on to say that he knows that anything he says will only make things worse. And he’s right, but it didn’t stop him from doing it anyway.
And I don’t think anybody’s really interested in hearing anything from me unless it’s an absolute unqualified apology. It’s an extremely complicated situation with layers and layers and layers of…and now I’m doing exactly what I said that I shouldn’t do. I’m trying to be careful and diplomatic and not hurt anyone’s feelings.
David said that Amber and Alia Shawkat both talked to him at length about why the interview came off as badly as it did, and while David was receptive to their criticism, it doesn’t seem like he really gets why everybody’s so mad at the fellas (cast mates Jason Bateman and Tony Hale who participated in taking Jeffrey’s side). David also apologized, bless his heart.
So I will unequivocally apologize to Jessica. I’m sorry that we behaved the way we behaved. Whatever the criticisms are, I will own up. I don’t even know what they are, as I said, I saw the initial thing but I jumped off at the behest of various people. And also I had to put my daughter to bed, so it was time to, you know, focus on what’s really important in the moment.
But then he kept talking.
There’s never an excuse ever for yelling at somebody and humiliating them in front of other people. And there was no excuse when Jessica did it. To Jessica’s credit, she eventually apologized to the actress, and felt bad about it. Jeffrey did as well, but it was a bigger deal, there were more people in the room and it was an extremely uncomfortable moment.
This accusation against Jessica really came out of left field but if you read the entire interview, you might be convinced that David’s brain is made up of solely of left fields. He did later emphasize that Jeffrey’s outburst was much worse than anything anybody else had done on set to his knowledge. So, bravo?
As you might expect, Amber’s been fielding Twitter volley’s on David’s behalf since this went down, and she’s over it.
I spoke to Alia at length. I corresponded with Jessica. Just because I’m publicly silent on shit doesn’t mean I’m not privately handling shit. Now that you’re updated on what I do behind the scenes, Twitter, keep my fucking name out of your @. Feel me? Have a great Memorial Day.
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) May 24, 2018
And not for nothing, here’s what Alia’s been up to on twitter.
#repealthe8th I support everyone going home to vote. Vote yes! mad love Dublin xo
— Alia Shawkat (@ShawkatAlia) May 24, 2018
Handling her business offline like a boss.
Pic: Wenn.com