Millie Bobby Brown has addressed recent attention surrounding the Millie Bobby Brown bullying report involving her Stranger Things co-star, David Harbour, following allegations that emerged during the Netflix show’s season 5 production in Los Angeles. The actress has publicly clarified her relationship with Harbour and commented on the wider impact the report has had on her work and personal connections.
Millie Bobby Brown Speaks Up After Allegations Surface
After stories circulated about a complaint reportedly filed by Brown against David Harbour for bullying and harassment on the set of Stranger Things, Brown responded directly when questions were posed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“We love this show with everything, and we value our friendship more than anything,”
Brown, 21, stated, highlighting her commitment to both the series and her friendship with Harbour.
She further addressed the importance of their working relationship in the wake of the allegations.
“We’ve been doing that for the last 10 years,”
Brown said, referencing their long history on the show.
“I mean, we have always been united in that.”
Their united presence at the Stranger Things season 5 premiere in Los Angeles only heightened public interest, with both actors posing together for photos just two weeks before the interview was published.
Details on the Bullying and Harassment Complaint
The initial report by the Daily Mail, published on November 1, claimed that Brown
“filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season”
of Stranger Things. According to a source cited in the article,
“there were pages and pages of accusations,”
which prompted an investigation lasting several months. Notably, the filed complaints did not involve sexual misconduct allegations.
During season 5 filming, it was reported that Brown was accompanied by a representative on set. While representatives for Brown, Harbour, and Netflix did not provide comments at the time the complaint was publicized, the media attention contributed to an intense public discussion about dynamics among the cast and crew.
Statements from Show Creators and Cast
When asked about the matter at the Stranger Things premiere, show co-creator Ross Duffer responded,
“We’ve been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we deeply care about them.”
At the same event, Brown emphasized the backbone of her connection to Harbour and their shared experience, telling Extra that they both feel
“so lucky to have each other.”
Brown and Harbour’s Evolving Relationship Through the Years
Since the debut of Stranger Things in 2016, both Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour have publicly opened up about their professional relationship, which has developed over five seasons of collaborating on the show. Brown, who plays Eleven, and Harbour, who appears as Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper and becomes a father figure to Eleven, have often discussed how their characters’ dynamic mirrors their off-screen bond.
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Brown reflected on their unique connection:
“David [Harbour, who plays Hopper] and I connected on another level.”
She continued,
“He always looked out for me, and I always annoyed him like a daughter or a younger sister. I was always trying to climb all over him and he was always rolling his eyes and laughing at me.”
Brown also described how their real-life rapport influenced the development of the show, saying,
“I think that’s kind of how the El and Hopper relationship really started to develop in the show — it was mirroring our actual lives and our actual relationship.”
Harbour has previously expressed fatherly concern for Brown as she navigated fame as a young star.
“Millie and I have always had sort of a special relationship because I knew her when she was so young. I knew her before any of this big fame hit,”
Harbour said on That Scene with Dan Patrick in 2021.
“I have a real protective feeling for her. I have a real, like, worry. I worry about her and the fame and all that she has to struggle with. And I’ve just always felt this kind of deep fatherly affection for her.”
Cast Perspective on Challenges in the Spotlight
As Stranger Things’ final season approached release, Harbour praised his younger co-stars for how they handled persistent public scrutiny and the complexities of growing up on a popular series. In a November profile by Esquire UK, Harbour noted,
“They’re all pretty good kids. Maybe it’s just because I’m sober, I’m sure everyone’s doing them, but it just feels like kids are not as substance-abusive as my generation was.”
He pointed out the significance of staying devoted to the work itself:
“One of the real ropes to hang on to in this business for me has been the artistry of what you’re doing.”
Harbour added,
“There are things that are just so beyond your control — whether or not you get box office, or whether or not people like you. All of these things are way beyond your control. But one of the things that you can control is your particular passion for storytelling, for art, for what you want to say, your voice.”
Impact and Ongoing Reactions
The Millie Bobby Brown bullying report and subsequent responses have drawn increased focus on cast interactions, workplace culture in high-profile productions, and the personal pressures young actors face. As Stranger Things releases its final season, attention remains on how the ensemble, including Brown, Harbour, Matt Duffer, and Ross Duffer, will navigate both professional and personal relationships under public scrutiny. While no further statements have been made from representatives for the parties involved, the situation continues to highlight the complexities of maintaining trust and support within creative teams, especially as one of television’s biggest series comes to a close.
Millie Bobby Brown says she and David Harbour are "lucky to have each other" and that #StrangerThings "means so much to both of us." pic.twitter.com/XXEjpYDNl5
— ExtraTV (@extratv) November 7, 2025
