Jeff Garlin Being Killed off ‘The Goldbergs’ Was “A Long Time Coming,” Co-Star Wendi McLendon-Covey Says

After Jeff Garlin was written off The Goldbergs following multiple HR investigations and accusations of inappropriate behavior, his co-star star Wendi McLendon-Covey is sharing her take on his exit from the sitcom.

Garlin’s death in the show was “a long time coming,” McLendon-Covey told Andy Cohen on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy on Tuesday (March 21).

“That it finally happened it was like, ‘Okay, okay. Finally, someone is listening to us,’” she said.

Garlin’s character Murray Goldberg was written off the show through an off-screen death after Season 9. The Goldbergs Season 10 picked up months later with his death being explained in a voiceover by his son, Adam. Garlin was written off of the show after he reached a “mutual agreement” to exit the series after filming Season 9. 

A number of Garlin’s current and former colleagues came forward in 2021 with accusations of “extremely verbally and emotionally abusive” behavior on set. Sources described the show as a “great work environment” that “would change dramatically on the days Garlin is on set,” per Deadline.  

Executives visited the set to let the cast and crew know Garlin would not be returning to the show, Deadline reported in December 2021.

“In fact, several people cheered when the execs said that Jeff would not be returning,” one person told the outlet. 

McLendon-Covey did not delve into the allegations against Garlin while speaking to Cohen, saying instead,“If we cannot talk about that would be great. I’m exhausted-by that topic and the PTSD of it all. I feel like the less people know about that, the better. No one, no one benefits from knowing anything.”

Garlin starred on The Goldbergs when it first premiered on ABC in 2013. He also has a regular role on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, and is an executive producer on the show. He was recently added to the cast of Mindy Kaling’s Netflix series, Never Have I Ever. 

He publicly addressed the allegations in a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair, telling the outlet, “If I threatened people, that’s an unsafe work atmosphere. None of that goes on ever with me. That’s not who I am. I am sorry to tell you that there really is no big story. Unless you want to do a story about political correctness.”

The Goldbergs Season 10, which is airing now on ABC, will mark the end of the show.