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David Harbour has spoken out amid reports that his Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown filed a formal complaint against him, alleging bullying and harassment during production of the final season of the hit Netflix series. The 50-year-old American actor, who plays police chief Jim Hopper in the global sci-fi phenomenon, reportedly faced an internal investigation following Brown’s claims, which were said to include “pages and pages” of allegations. According to The Mail on Sunday, the British actress, 21, was later accompanied by a personal representative on set during the filming of the show’s fifth and final season, which wrapped in December 2024. Netflix has declined to comment on the report, and neither Brown nor Harbour has publicly addressed the complaint directly. However, the story has reignited interest in an interview Harbour gave just weeks before the allegations surfaced, in which he reflected on his relationship with his younger Stranger Things castmates and the advice he offered them about navigating fame. Speaking to Esquire Spain, Harbour described a paternal-style bond with the younger members of the ensemble — Brown, Finn Wolfhard, 22, Noah Schnapp, 21, Caleb McLaughlin, 24, Sadie Sink, 23, and Gaten Matarazzo, 23. “They’re all pretty good kids,” he said. Sharing the guidance he often gave them, Harbour explained: “One of the real ropes to hang on to in this business for me has been the artistry of what you’re doing. One of the things that you can control is your particular passion for storytelling, for art, for what you want to say – your voice.” The Hellboy star said that while young fame can be thrilling, it can also be destabilising if actors lose sight of why they began performing in the first place. “I would love to see Gaten [Matarazzo] play King Lear when he’s 70 years old,” he added. “I would like to see those kinds of careers out of them.” Harbour also reflected on his own life lessons, admitting he has made “a lot of mistakes” over the years but sees them as part of his growth. “You either accept your path completely and realise that even the pain, slip-ups and mistakes are part of the journey – or you change everything,” he told the magazine. “I think I’d choose to change nothing.” His words have since been viewed in a new light following reports of the internal inquiry, which The Mail claims “went on for months”. The publication said the allegations did not involve sexual misconduct but related to bullying and inappropriate behaviour on set. Harbour has been a central figure in Stranger Things since its 2016 debut, with his character Hopper serving as a protective father figure to Brown’s Eleven. Over the years, both actors have spoken warmly about their on-screen bond, with Harbour previously describing Brown as “fearless” and “the heart of the show”. Fans have since taken to social media to debate the claims, with some expressing shock and others calling for patience until the investigation’s findings are made public. Many highlighted the intense pressures that come with global fame at a young age, noting that the Netflix juggernaut catapulted its child stars into overnight stardom. Industry insiders told The Mail that Netflix took the matter “extremely seriously”, ensuring protocols were followed during production. The streaming giant has not confirmed the results of the inquiry or whether any action was taken. Despite the controversy, Stranger Things 5 remains on track for release in December, bringing the beloved Hawkins saga — and the story of Eleven and Hopper — to a close. For Harbour, who will next appear in Marvel’s Thunderbolts, the renewed scrutiny marks an unexpected twist in a career he has described as “a constant process of learning how to be a better human being.” Away from the hit series, the star’s private life has also been back in the spotlight following renewed attention on his marriage to Lily Allen, who has drawn on their breakup for her upcoming album. In her new track Tennis, Allen appears to reference the breakdown of their relationship and Harbour’s alleged infidelity, singing: “If it was just sex I wouldn’t be jealous / You won’t play with me and who the f*** is Madeline?” The singer told The Times that her record reflects “real things that happened in my life,” adding that “there are definitely betrayals on it.” Harbour and Allen married in Las Vegas in 2020 after a whirlwind romance but have since gone their separate ways. Allen has been promoting her return to music while Harbour prepares to reprise his role as Red Guardian in Marvel’s upcoming Thunderbolts film.
