Wendi McLendon-Covey fires back after Jeff Garlin blames bipolar disorder for 'The Goldbergs' exit
Jeff Garlin is opening up about his contentious exit from "The Goldbergs," saying his then-undiagnosed bipolar disorder contributed to the behavior that strained relationships with his co-stars before he left the hit sitcom.The 64-year-old actor starred as the Goldbergs' family patriarch Murray Goldberg on the show from its premiere in September 2013 until he departed the ABC show during its ninth season in December 2021 amid HR investigations into complaints about his on-set behavior.Garlin was accused by members of the cast and crew of inappropriate verbal conduct, unwanted physical contact including hugging and touching and behavior that some employees described as creating an uncomfortable work environment.While speaking with Vanity Fair at the time, Garlin denied intentionally harassing anyone.
He acknowledged that HR had spoken to him over several years but characterized the complaints as stemming from his style of comedy and "silliness" on set rather than malicious intent.He also said he was willing to adjust behaviors, such as no longer hugging people.JEFF GARLIN DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM CANCEL CULTURE AMID ‘THE GOLDBERGS’ ON-SET CONDUCT ALLEGATIONSWendi McLendon-Covey is pushing back on her former "The Goldbergs" star Jeff Garlin's claims about his on-set behavior.
(Noel Vasquez/Getty Images; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)During a March 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Andy Cohen Live," Garlin's co-star Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played his wife Beverly Goldberg on "The Goldbergs," said his exit was "a long time coming" and that "finally, someone is listening to us." She declined to discuss the situation further, saying she was "exhausted by that topic and the PTSD of it all."On Monday, Garlin appeared on the Daily Beast's "Obsessed" podcast where he addressed McLendon-Covey's comments and attributed his behavior to a mental health condition that had not been diagnosed at the time."It wasn't a long time coming for me," he...