Wendi McLendon-Covey Disputes Jeff Garlin's Account of On-Set Behavior

Wendi McLendon-Covey, a star of the ABC sitcom "The Goldbergs," has publicly refuted claims made by her former co-star Jeff Garlin regarding his behavior on set. Garlin, who was fired from the show in 2021, recently stated in an interview that his undiagnosed bipolar disorder at the time led him to be "mean" and contributed to his departure.

In an interview with The Daily Beast's "Obsessed" podcast, Garlin, 64, said he was "miserable on the show, and I was miserable with my performance" due to his untreated mental health condition. He added, "She was always trying to tell me, ‘Hey, you’re really great on the show.’ I didn’t believe her. I just got to the point where I had to quit, and she was very resentful."

McLendon-Covey, 56, responded to Garlin's comments on Instagram, initially posting a simple "Huh" on a clip of the interview. She later elaborated in a follow-up comment, stating, "Let’s just say I remember things very differently, as does the crew, the other actors, the writers, and our executives."

Garlin had abruptly exited "The Goldbergs" in December 2021 following allegations of misconduct and “abusive” behavior on set. Reports at the time indicated that cast and crew members were upset by Garlin's alleged use of demeaning language and unwanted physical contact. Garlin was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder until he was 59, shortly before his departure from the series.

During the podcast interview, Garlin described his experience with undiagnosed bipolar disorder as manifesting in three states: dark and withdrawn, manic, or "really, really mean." He expressed that he felt he "had to quit" the show due to his behavior and acknowledged that McLendon-Covey was "very resentful and angry" at his departure.

Despite the public disagreement, Garlin stated he holds no resentment towards McLendon-Covey, saying, "I actually love her. And I appreciate that she’s one of the greatest actors I’ve ever worked with."

In March 2023, McLendon-Covey told Andy Cohen's radio show that Garlin's exit "was a long time coming." She also expressed a desire to move past the topic, citing exhaustion and the emotional toll of the situation, stating, "I feel like the less people know about it, the better. No one, no one benefits from knowing anything."