Thread by @moryan

I've been quiet on the socials for a few reasons, but one reason is, I've been working on a thing... thread incoming.

I had one of the more interesting (and at times, challenging) conversations of my career last week. I had heard a rumor: Was Jeff Garlin fired from the ABC comedy The Goldbergs? For some time, I could not pin down what was going on.

I contacted a lot of reps/PR, including ABC and Sony (which makes the show, which is in its 9th season). Could not get an answer to an (I thought) simple query: Is he employed by the show or not? I did connect with some ex-Goldbergs employees during the course of all this.

They shared concerns abt Garlin’s alleged verbal and physical conduct. I continued trying to report this out, but tbh, I was still not exactly sure what was going on re HR/firing/etc. Some stories don’t get published; I thought this would be one of those. Then Garlin emailed me.

He was aware I was looking into matters concerning him, and I confirmed that I was. He told me no one knew he was contacting me. The day before Thanksgiving, we talked for more than an hour. He stayed on the record the entire time.

I asked Garlin if he’d been investigated recently by HR; he replied that HR has come to him repeatedly in the last 3 years regarding his conduct. He said he regards the behavior they’re asking about as “silly.” We got into all of that & much more.

In this new @VanityFair Q&A, I talk at length with Jeff Garlin; about HR investigations, conduct toward colleagues, what he thinks he should or shouldn't change; power imbalances & more... vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021…

This was an unusual conversation for me, in that the person at the heart of a complicated story talked to me at length, on the record. There were moments that were kind of tense but he didn't hang up. It was helpful that Garlin was willing to answer the questions I asked.

I do every story for an (I hope useful) reason. Speaking of the industry at large (NOT just 1 person), for folks w power — esp men — there can be blind spots, obliviousness, entitlement. Industry power imbalances are enormous & those at/near top can have a hard time seeing that.

For me, one of the more interesting exchanges was when Garlin said he would not retaliate toward someone who raised an issue with him. My reply: "But they don’t know that." Speaking generally (NOT about this situation) I've talked to many who were fired or penalized for less.

So, spoiler alert: Jeff Garlin has not been fired from The Goldbergs. I think the issues that come up in this Q&A have relevance far beyond one show. And in closing I'll just say....

In the industry, it's very risky for anyone to speak hard truths to power, to go to any authority w/a serious problem, to go to HR. Possibility of punishment (up to & including ending one’s career) is real. With that, I’ll shut up & let you judge the conversation for yourself.

Jeff Garlin is no longer employed by The Goldbergs. @Snoodit at @THR has the story. hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jef…

🐉

This Deadline piece on Garlin's exit has reporting on his on-set behavior & (among other things) more info that stand-in incident: "cast and crew were appalled" / “this was the straw that broke the camel’s back”: deadline.com/2021/12/jeff-g…