Shortly before the debut of the final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, reports surfaced that Millie Bobby Brown had filed a complaint against her co-star David Harbour. While details remained limited, multiple trade outlets confirmed that an internal investigation had taken place and that the matter had ultimately been resolved.
Now, Harbour himself is addressing the controversy.
Harbour Addresses the Reports
In a lengthy interview with Variety, David Harbour acknowledged that there had been a conflict between himself and Millie Bobby Brown. However, he pushed back on many of the more sensational narratives that emerged online.
According to Harbour, the situation was ultimately far less dramatic than many observers assumed.
Noting that Stranger Things was in production for more than a decade, David Harbour explained that he and Millie Bobby Brown played father and daughter during her formative years. “I don’t know if people have families and friends that you spend a lot of time with for 10 years—you occasionally get in arguments, disagreements,” he said.
David Harbour – Variety, YouTube
The actor added, “In families, it’s OK because you’re just in a disagreement and then you come back together. The problem with a billion-dollar show is that there’s just hundreds of people who want to get involved.”
Netflix never publicly commented on the specifics of the dispute, leading to widespread speculation online.
However, director and executive producer Shawn Levy addressed the reports at the time. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Levy said, “I’ve read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to … there’s so much noise around it. But the truth is that we view this crew and this cast as family, and so we treat each other with respect, and that’s always been bedrock.”
Brown Reflects on Their Working Relationship
Millie Bobby Brown also addressed her relationship with David Harbour in an email provided to Variety for the interview. The actress said their working relationship became more collaborative over the years.
Eleven in Stranger Things – YouTube, Netflix
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“When you work with someone for that many years, we could really push each other emotionally in scenes,” she noted. “Even though the series has ended, there’s still a lot of gratitude. Getting to share that experience with him for so many years is something I’ll always remember and value.”
A Dispute That Appears Resolved
Exactly when Millie Bobby Brown made her complaint against David Harbour remains unclear. Additionally, it is unlikely that anyone with direct knowledge of the dispute can publicly provide specific details about its cause.
A scene from the teaser trailer for Stranger Things 5 – YouTube, Netflix
However, Harbour suggests the resolution was relatively straightforward. “It was just a simple rupture-and-repair thing that, once we cleared everybody out of the way and talked to each other, we’re fine,” he said. “Everyone nowadays is very scared of talking about things. People are very scared of being human.”
Earlier, David Harbour suggested that he and Millie Bobby Brown are interested in working together again on a future project. Whether that ultimately happens remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Harbour’s remarks represent the clearest public acknowledgment yet that there was indeed a workplace dispute between the two stars, even if both now characterize it as a conflict that was ultimately resolved.
Do you think any issues between David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown have been resolved? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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