Netflix is reportedly investigating serious claims of bullying and harassment against actor David Harbour, one of the central figures in its hit series Stranger Things. The allegations come from co-star Millie Bobby Brown, just as production wraps up on the show’s highly anticipated final season.
According to The Mail on Sunday, Millie Bobby Brown, 21, filed a formal complaint against Harbour, 50, ahead of the start of filming for Season 5 in January last year. The report claims the complaint alleged bullying and harassment but did not include any accusations of sexual misconduct.
“There were pages and pages of accusations,” a source told the outlet, adding that the internal investigation “went on for months.”
The tension reportedly affected production on the final season, which Netflix is said to be investing more than $400 million in.
Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety/Getty Images.
Brown Had a Representative On Set During Filming
Harbour, who plays former police chief Jim Hopper, shares extensive screen time with Brown, who portrays Eleven – a telekinetic child he takes under his care. Their complicated father-daughter dynamic has been a cornerstone of the series since its debut in 2016.
However, due to the strained relationship between the two actors, Brown reportedly had a personal representative with her during filming of the final season to ensure her comfort and safety on set.
David Harbour Also Facing Public Scrutiny Over Divorce
The allegations surface amid another difficult chapter for Harbour, whose marriage to British singer Lily Allen recently ended. Allen’s new album West End Girl (her first in seven years) has drawn widespread attention for its raw portrayal of infidelity and heartbreak, widely believed to reference Harbour.
Sources told The Mail that Allen supported her husband during the Netflix investigation, calling it “a brutal time” for both.
Millie Bobby Brown’s Life Beyond Stranger Things
Since breaking out as Eleven, Brown has gone on to headline films like Enola Holmes and Damsel, cementing her place as one of Hollywood’s most successful young stars.
In 2024, she married actor Jake Bongiovi, son of rock musician Jon Bon Jovi. The couple live on a farm in Georgia, where they run an animal sanctuary, and in August they adopted a baby girl.
Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, and David Harbour pictured in 2017. Credit: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images.
The End of Stranger Things
Stranger Things has been one of Netflix’s most successful and acclaimed series, drawing record-breaking viewership since its premiere. Season 4 alone racked up more than 286 million viewing hours within three days of release in 2022.
Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the nostalgic sci-fi drama stars Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Joe Keery, and Natalia Dyer alongside Brown and Harbour.
The fifth and final season will be released in three parts: the first four episodes debut on November 26, followed by three episodes at Christmas, and a feature-length finale arriving in theaters and on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.