The long-awaited Stranger Things final season may be dominating headlines, but behind the glitz of its Los Angeles premiere, controversy looms. Reports surfaced earlier this week alleged that Millie Bobby Brown filed a bullying and harassment complaint against co-star David Harbour before filming began on Season 5. Neither Netflix nor the actors commented on it so far.
Despite the online speculation, Millie and David appeared cordial and cheerful on the red carpet, and even posed together for photographs.
When The Hollywood Reporter asked Ross Duffer about the incident, he addressed the matter cautiously saying, “Obviously, you understand I can’t get into personal onset matters, but I will say we’ve been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we deeply care about them. So, you know, nothing matters more than just having a set where everyone feels safe and happy.”
Co-creator Matt Duffer stood beside and echoed the sentiment that the cast and crew have built a close-knit, long-term relationship through a decade of production.
Executive producer and director Shawn Levy also weighed in, and emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and safety on set. “At the end of the day, that’s the job,” Levy said. “You have to create a respectful workplace where everyone feels comfortable and safe, and so we did everything to build that environment. And we’re proud of the fact that we did so.”
He added, “I’ve read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to… there’s so much noise around it. But the truth is that we view this crew and this cast as family, and so we treat each other with respect, and that’s always been bedrock.”
Also Read: Netflix announces Stranger Things animated series Tales From ’85, set for 2026 release
According to The Daily Mail, Millie filed the claim against David before Season 5 filming began. The report alleged that Netflix conducted an internal investigation lasting several months, and that Millie was accompanied by a personal representative on set during production.
David Harbour has previously spoken warmly of Millie on That Scene with Dan Patrick podcast in 2021. “Millie and I have always had sort of a special relationship because I knew her when she was so young… I have a real protective feeling for her. I worry about her and the fame and all that she has to struggle with,” he had said.
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is set to roll out in three parts — with Part 1 arriving November 26, Part 2 on December 25, and the feature-length finale releasing on December 31, both on Netflix and in select theaters.
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