Millie Bobby Brown Filed Bullying Complaint Against ‘Stranger Things’ Co-Star David Harbour

Millie Bobby Brown, 21, filed a bullying and harassment complaint against her “Stranger Things” co-star David Harbour, 50, prior to the start of filming for the show’s fifth and final season, prompting a months-long investigation.

The complaint, reported by The Daily Mail, contained “pages and pages of accusations” but did not include allegations of sexual misconduct. Brown reportedly had a representative present during filming of the final season. The pair first met on the set of “Stranger Things” in 2016, when Brown was 12 years old, and their on-screen father-daughter dynamic has been mirrored in their off-screen relationship.

Harbour has frequently spoken about his protective feelings toward Brown, particularly as she navigated early fame. In a 2021 podcast interview, he stated he had a “real protective feeling for her” and expressed “worry” about the pressures of her celebrity. Brown has reciprocated these sentiments, describing Harbour and Winona Ryder as “like my parents” in a 2018 panel discussion, adding that Harbour was often protective of her romantic life. This incident raises questions about workplace dynamics within the popular Netflix series and the challenges faced by young actors.

Representatives for Netflix, Harbour, and Brown have not yet issued public statements regarding the investigation or its outcome. Harbour previously described his early interactions with the young cast of “Stranger Things” – including Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Sadie Sink – as “parental,” attempting to maintain a serious demeanor akin to his character, Hopper, to enhance their performances. Further details are expected as the investigation concludes and the final season of Stranger Things approaches release.