Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy respond to bullying rumors between Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour at the ‘Stranger Things’ finale premiere.
The Stranger Things family is standing together amid controversy.
As the cast celebrated the world premiere of the hit Netflix show’s fifth and final season in Los Angeles Thursday night, questions swirled online about a viral report claiming that Millie Bobby Brown accused her co-star David Harbour of on-set bullying.
Despite the buzz, both Brown and Harbour appeared cheerful on the red carpet—smiling, posing together, and showing no sign of tension.
When asked about the allegations by The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator Ross Duffer chose his words carefully, saying, “Obviously, you understand I can’t get into personal on-set matters, but we’ve been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point, they’re family and we deeply care about them. Nothing matters more than having a set where everyone feels safe and happy.”
Director and executive producer Shawn Levy echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that creating a respectful environment is “the job.” “You have to create a respectful workplace where everyone feels comfortable and safe,” Levy explained. “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 that’s always been bedrock.”
Neither Netflix nor representatives for Brown and Harbour have commented on the report, which first appeared in The Daily Mail over the weekend. The tabloid claimed that the 21-year-old actress filed a harassment and bullying complaint against her 50-year-old co-star before season five filming began, prompting an internal investigation that reportedly lasted several months. While the article said there were “pages and pages” of allegations, it clarified that no sexual misconduct was involved.
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The timing of the controversy couldn’t be more awkward for Netflix, as the streamer kicks off a massive global marketing campaign for Stranger Things’ highly anticipated final season.
Brown and Harbour’s on-screen chemistry as Eleven and Jim Hopper—a complex father-daughter dynamic that’s been central to the show since 2016—has long been a fan favorite. Harbour has previously spoken affectionately about his relationship with Brown, describing her as someone he feels protective of.
In a 2021 interview on That Scene with Dan Patrick, he said, “Millie and I have always had 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.”
For her part, Brown has been open about her experiences with bullying and public scrutiny. Earlier this year, while promoting her Netflix movie The Electric State, she addressed online trolls who criticized her looks and maturity, calling their behavior “disturbing.”
“I grew up in front of the world,” she said in an Instagram video. “For some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me… This isn’t journalism. This is bullying.”
As for Stranger Things, the show is set to end with a holiday rollout: Part 1 premieres November 26, Part 2 drops Christmas Day, and the feature-length series finale arrives in both theaters and on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.
