ALBAWABA - David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown face backlash despite united appearance.
This is not a favorable month for David Harbour. But people who went to the Los Angeles opening of the fifth and final season of Netflix's "Stranger Things" on November 6 might not have known.
Harbor was thrilled on the red carpet, especially when he hugged co-star Millie Bobby Brown for no reason and the two of them took selfies with fans. Both Brown and Harbour praised each other in interviews on the red carpet. Brown told "Entertainment Tonight" that she and Harbour "obviously had an exceptional bond because we have a father-daughter relationship, and we do every scene together... It's been so special to have him along the journey for me." Harbour told ET, the only outlet he would talk to, that he loved Brown and "had been proud to watch all of them grow up and become such great artists... this particular project is so special, and we've gotten to know each other so deeply."
British actress Millie Bobby Brown and US actor David Harbour (Photo by KEVIN WINTER / Getty Images via AFP)
If the two seemed too friendly on Thursday, that might have been the point. The opening happened just a few days after the Daily Mail in the UK reported on November 1 that Brown had accused Harbour of bullying and harassment before Season 5 began filming. Neither star said anything about the story, and Harbour didn't talk to many people from the press at the opening.
Brown's lawsuit against Harbour could overshadow the coverage of the last season of "Stranger Things." However, people who are close to the show say that Harbour wasn't supposed to be at press junkets for the show before the recent news. He was too busy filming to do so. Next year, he will be in HBO's "DTF St. Louis" with Jason Bateman and Linda Cardellini, and Marvel's "Avengers: Doomsday" will come out in December 2026.
PR experts told Variety that the dance moves on the red carpet and the fact that the whole cast appeared on stage together at the TCL Chinese Theater before Episode 1 was shown were meant to show that the cast is united and that the show is bigger than any one person. One person in charge of crisis PR said, "The goal in these situations is to make it no worse."
Instead, Netflix played up the idea of Harbour and Brown having fun on the carpet by sharing a video of them greeting fans. Brown's clothing line, Florence by Mills, liked the video and shared a heart emoji. Many of the fan comments on the post said they didn't believe the rumors of trouble between the two stars. Pictures from inside the party also show that they were friendly.
British actress Millie Bobby Brown and US actor David Harbour (Photo by Roger Kisby / Getty Images via AFP)
Sources with knowledge of the case have stated to Variety that there was an investigation into Brown’s complaint and that it was resolved. Brown and Harbour share many scenes together in Season 5 of "Stranger Things" as father and daughter on the show and as friends. A writer for Variety saw one scene during a day-long visit to the set in July 2024.
Representatives for Brown, Harbour, and Netflix did not answer when asked for a statement. The Hollywood Reporter asked the show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, and executive producer Shawn Levy about the complaint directly on the red carpet. They wouldn't name the actors, but they all talked about how important it is to make sure their cast feels safe in the "family" atmosphere of the show.
British actress Millie Bobby Brown and US actor David Harbour (Photo by Roger Kisby / Getty Images via AFP)
Levy told the news source, "I've read a bunch of stories, and they range from being completely false to...there's so much noise around it." "But the truth is that we treat each other with respect because we see this crew and cast as family," she said. "That's always been the foundation." Ross Duffer added, "We've been doing the series for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they're family, and we deeply care about them." Really, having a set where everyone feels safe and happy is the most important thing.
In the first four seasons of “Stranger Things,” Eleven, played by Brown, is introduced as a quiet pre-teen girl with amazing telekinetic abilities. Hopper, played by Harbour, is introduced as the overworked police chief of Hawkins, Indiana. The two characters become like father and daughter. In Seasons 2 and 3, Eleven and Hopper have some problems because Hopper is too worried about Eleven's safety. The characters are in entirely different stories by Season 4, and they don't cross paths until the very end of the season.
