Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour Appear United at Stranger Things Season 5 Premiere Amid Bullying Controversy
The on-screen father-daughter duo smiled and embraced on the red carpet, days after reports surfaced of a harassment claim that cast a shadow over the final season’s premiere.
Days after reports of a harassment claim surfaced, the on-screen father-daughter duo shared warm smiles and laughter on the red carpet, signaling solidarity as the hit Netflix series reaches its final chapter.
Just days after reports emerged that Millie Bobby Brown had filed a “harassment and bullying claim” against her Stranger Things co-star David Harbour, the two appeared side by side at the Los Angeles premiere of the show’s highly anticipated fifth and final season—seemingly putting on a united front.
Photos from Thursday’s red carpet event captured the actors, who play Eleven and Jim Hopper, sharing smiles, laughter, and even an embrace as fans cheered from the sidelines. Netflix posted video footage of the pair hugging and posing together, a moment that quickly spread across social media as fans speculated about the state of their relationship.
The appearance came shortly after the Daily Mail reported that Harbour, 50, had faced an internal inquiry following Brown’s alleged complaint about his behavior. According to the outlet, the young actress—now 21—filed her concerns before filming began for Season 5, leading to the presence of a personal representative for her on set.
“There were pages and pages of accusations,” a source told the Daily Mail. “The investigation went on for months.” The publication emphasized that none of the allegations involved sexual misconduct.
Neither Netflix, Harbour, nor Brown has publicly commented on the report.
A Complex Relationship On and Off Screen
Brown and Harbour’s dynamic has long mirrored their characters’ emotional bond in Stranger Things. Over the years, both stars have spoken about the intensity of their relationship, which they’ve often described as familial.
In a 2021 appearance on That Scene With Dan Patrick, Harbour said he had “always felt this kind of deep fatherly affection” for Brown, who was just 12 when the series debuted in 2016.
Brown, speaking at PaleyFest in 2018, echoed those sentiments, describing their relationship as “like father and daughter.” “We went through so many different emotions,” she said. “We get angry at each other, we express our feelings on and off the set, and those scenes were so raw and real that the reward is the scenes.”
Harbour, who has no children and is currently navigating a divorce from singer Lily Allen, has also spoken about how his role as Hopper allowed him to tap into new emotional depths. “This was unlocking in me as a human being a love that was human but pure,” he said.
A Poignant Moment Before the End
As Stranger Things prepares to close out its record-breaking run, the tension between its two lead stars has cast a shadow over what was expected to be a celebratory farewell. Still, their affectionate appearance at the premiere suggests a shared commitment to the series that transformed both of their careers.
The first part of Stranger Things Season 5 is now available to stream on Netflix starting November 26.
