Lead: Millie Bobby Brown, 21, and David Harbour, 50, appeared together on the red carpet at the Stranger Things season five premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, putting on a friendly display despite public reports that Brown filed a harassment and bullying complaint against Harbour before production on the final season began. Netflix posted video of the two embracing as fans cheered outside the theatre. The reunion comes while an internal inquiry reportedly ran for months and amid separate personal headlines involving Harbour’s estranged wife, Lily Allen.
Key Takeaways
- Both actors posed together at the Hollywood premiere and were filmed hugging by Netflix, signaling no visible tension in public at that moment.
- According to reporting in Mail on Sunday/Daily Mail, Brown filed a harassment and bullying complaint before filming season five; the alleged submission included ‘‘pages’’ of accusations, and the matter prompted an internal inquiry that reportedly lasted months.
- The reported complaint did not include allegations of sexual misconduct, according to the same reporting.
- The first four episodes of Stranger Things season five are scheduled to arrive on Netflix on , with three more episodes on and a final feature-length finale to follow in theatres and on the streamer.
- Millie arrived at the premiere with husband Jake Bongiovi absent from the red carpet, while Netflix executives Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria joined the pair, underlining the studio’s public focus on the show’s launch.
- Netflix declined to comment on the reported investigation; representatives for both actors and the showrunners did not issue public statements to reporters following the initial coverage.
Background
Stranger Things, a global cultural phenomenon for Netflix, is entering its concluding season after four prior runs and multiple special events. The series elevated several cast members to international profiles, including Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, and David Harbour, who portrays Jim Hopper, the Hawkins police chief who adopts Eleven. Production of the final season has been accompanied by heightened media scrutiny of off-screen relationships and workplace conduct, placing both publicity and internal procedures under the spotlight.
Reports that Brown submitted a harassment and bullying complaint against Harbour appeared in mid-2024 coverage and said the matter predated principal photography on season five. That reporting described a prolonged internal review, while also noting that the alleged claims do not include sexual misconduct. At the same time, Harbour’s personal life has attracted attention following reports about his separation from Lily Allen and coverage tied to her recent album release.
Main Event
At the premiere held at the iconic Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, cameras captured Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour arriving together and embracing as fans cheered outside. Netflix shared video of the moment on its Instagram account, showing both actors smiling and posing arm-in-arm for photographs. Observers noted a cordial red-carpet interaction that suggested no immediate visible animus between the two performers.
Brown attended in a high-profile gown and styling choices that drew media commentary, while Harbour wore a dark pinstripe suit and his signature mustache. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and CCO Bela Bajaria were present on the carpet and photographed alongside the pair, which media outlets framed as a show of studio unity ahead of the series finale.
Press reporting earlier this year said Brown had been accompanied on set by a personal representative following her complaint, and that the studio opened an internal inquiry into the matter. Netflix has not publicly confirmed the investigation’s findings, and representatives for the actors and the series declined to provide comment to reporters at the time of those reports.
Analysis & Implications
The public reunion at the premiere complicates simple narratives about workplace disputes: a visible embrace and shared photos can communicate reconciliation or a decision to keep disputes private while the business of promotion continues. For Netflix, a studio with a major financial and reputational stake in Stranger Things, presenting a united front ahead of the finale helps focus attention on the show’s launch strategy rather than internal personnel issues.
Internally reported complaints that stop short of criminal or sexual allegations typically trigger administrative reviews, HR processes, and, in some cases, on-set accommodations. The reported presence of a personal representative for Brown during filming suggests the studio took steps to manage on-set dynamics; however, without a public disclosure, the nature and outcomes of any measures remain private.
From a broader industry perspective, this episode highlights continuing tensions between rising young stars and established co-leads, and the way studios balance cast relations with global release calendars. The timing ahead of a high-profile finale raises commercial stakes: Netflix’s decision to split the season and stage a theatrical finale reflects a significant promotional and revenue strategy that the company likely wants insulated from off-screen controversies.
Comparison & Data
| Release Component | Schedule |
|---|---|
| First batch of episodes | — four episodes |
| Second batch | — three episodes |
| Final feature-length finale | Simultaneous theatrical and Netflix release (date TBA) |
The staggered release departs from Netflix’s traditional single-drop model and resembles a hybrid strategy: an initial multi-episode drop to satisfy binge viewers, a holiday batch to sustain conversation, and a theatrical finale to create a tentpole event. This approach aims to maximize global attention during a narrow promotional window while offering multiple opportunities for press coverage and subscriber engagement.
Reactions & Quotes
Media reporting cited anonymous sources within the Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail describing the complaint and the studio inquiry; those accounts framed the matter as a protracted internal review rather than a public legal case. Below are brief quoted excerpts from that reporting and context.
“Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season. There were pages and pages of accusations.”
Unnamed source to Mail on Sunday
That quotation, as reported, was provided by an unnamed source to the Mail on Sunday. The outlet used it to explain why on-set accommodations were reportedly made; neither Netflix nor the principal parties publicly confirmed the contents of the complaint.
“Netflix will never comment on an internal investigation, but the fact they’ve not denied it speaks volumes.”
Unnamed source to Mail on Sunday
This line appeared in Mail on Sunday reporting as commentary on the studio’s silence. Industry practice varies, but many platforms decline to discuss personnel matters publicly for privacy and legal reasons, which can leave journalists relying on secondary accounts and anonymous sourcing.
Unconfirmed
- The exact findings and any corrective steps resulting from the reported internal inquiry have not been publicly disclosed and remain unverified.
- Descriptions of the complaint as ‘‘pages and pages’’ rely on anonymous sourcing and have not been independently confirmed by the studio or by representatives for the actors.
- Any interpretation that the red-carpet hug signifies a formal reconciliation between the actors is speculative; public gestures can reflect many motivations, including professional obligation or agreement to maintain a united promotional front.
Bottom Line
What happened publicly at the Chinese Theatre premiere was a cordial, photographed reunion between two principal cast members of Stranger Things, captured and amplified by Netflix’s own social channels. That visible interaction sits alongside earlier reporting of a serious workplace complaint and an internal review, leaving a gap between public-facing appearances and private personnel processes.
For viewers and industry observers, the key takeaways are procedural: studios may handle sensitive complaints internally and choose not to disclose outcomes; public promotion of major franchises often proceeds even when personnel matters are unresolved. The coming release schedule for season five will be the primary measure of whether the controversy affects audience reception or the business rollout.