“The Goldbergs” star Wendi McLendon-Covey has pushed back against former on-screen husband Jeff Garlin’s explanation that his behavior on the ABC sitcom was linked to undiagnosed bipolar disorder.
In a new interview on the Daily Beast’s “Obsessed” podcast, Garlin, 64, said his mental health condition played a role in his controversial departure from the series.
“I actually empathize with [McLendon-Covey] because, at the time, I was undiagnosed bipolar,” Garlin said. “I was miserable on the show, and I was miserable with my performance.”
He recalled that McLendon-Covey would reassure him, saying, “Hey, you’re really great on the show.” Garlin said he did not believe her and eventually reached the point where he felt he had to leave, adding that she became “very resentful.”
McLendon-Covey, 56, responded to a clip of the interview on Instagram Monday with the brief comment, “Huh.”
She followed up by writing, “Let’s just say I remember things very differently, as does the crew, the other actors, the writers, and our executives.”
Page Six has contacted Garlin’s representative for comment.
During the podcast, Garlin said he “had to quit” “The Goldbergs” because of the way he behaved, which he said left McLendon-Covey feeling “very resentful” toward him.
“Being bipolar, I was either one of three things: dark, dark, dark, dark, didn’t talk and look at anyone; happy to the point of mania, never turning off my thing; or mean — really, really mean,” he said.
Garlin said he was not diagnosed until age 59, near the end of his run on the sitcom. “So I could be a lot,” he explained. “So when I left, she was very resentful and angry at me.”
Although he acknowledged that McLendon-Covey may still be upset with him, Garlin said he does not hold any resentment toward his former co-star.
“I actually love her,” he said, praising McLendon-Covey as “one of the greatest actors I’ve ever worked with.” He added, “That will not be lost on me.”
Garlin left “The Goldbergs” abruptly in 2021 after allegations of misconduct and “abusive” behavior on the set.
At the time, Deadline reported that cast and crew members had raised concerns about allegedly demeaning language Garlin used, along with unwanted hugs.
During a March 2023 appearance on Andy Cohen’s radio show, McLendon-Covey said Garlin’s exit from the long-running series “was a long time coming.”
She also said she wanted to move on from the subject, explaining that she was “exhausted by everything” and “the PTSD of it all.”
“I feel like the less people know about it, the better. No one, no one benefits from knowing anything,” McLendon-Covey said.