David Harbour might be wishing he could disappear into the Upside Down himself, with news breaking that Stranger Things co‑star Millie Bobby Brown, 21, has accused him of bullying and harassment. Hot on the heels of ex‑wife Lily Allen’s divorce album West End Girl, reports allege that Brown lodged a complaint ahead of production on the show’s fifth and final season — one that included “pages and pages” of allegations.
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The Mail on Sunday reported that Harbour faced a months‑long internal enquiry after the British actress complained about his behaviour towards her. The outcome of that investigation remains undisclosed, but the newspaper specified Brown’s complaint did not include claims of any sexual impropriety. A source told the publication, “Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season. There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months.”
Image: Getty David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown at the Stranger Things Season 4 premiere in 2022
Netflix declined to comment on any investigation, and the publication reported that Lily Allen had supported her then‑husband throughout the “brutal” ordeal.
What Did David Harbour Do?
We don’t yet know the exact nature of Brown’s accusations, nor the result of the investigation. Millie Bobby Brown has reportedly had a personal representative with her on set while filming the final series, which is anticipated to be one of the most‑watched shows on the platform in its history. The source said: “Netflix will never comment on an internal investigation, but the fact they’ve not denied it speaks volumes. Stranger Things helped put Netflix on the map. Millions of fans worldwide have been eagerly anticipating the finale. No one wants anything to take attention away from that.”
Stranger Things premiered in 2016 and made then‑12‑year‑old Millie Bobby Brown a star with a reported net worth of US $50 million. She plays Eleven, a young girl with psychokinetic and telepathic abilities who escapes from a government lab and befriends a band of high‑school misfits. David Harbour plays ex‑police chief Jim Hopper, who adopts Eleven and becomes her surrogate father. With Hopper’s love and care, Eleven emerges from a non-verbal traumatised runaway into a (relatively) normal teenage girl. Stranger Things fans who’ve cherished this dynamic for season will no doubt be shocked to hear Brown’s allegations.
Image: Netflix Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour play Eleven and Jim Hopper in Stranger Things
The Stranger Things Season Five promotional tour was already set to be tense with Harbour having recently come under global scrutiny following his ex‑wife Lily Allen’s hit album West End Girl, released 24 October 2025, in which she charts the demise of their four‑year marriage, which ended in December last year. The record is filled with allusions to infidelity and detailed descriptions of sex addiction and butt‑plug and lube‑filled bags of sex toys stashed at (currently for sale) Brooklyn brownstones. And, while Allen has described the album as a blend of fact and fiction, since its release, a woman named Natalie Tippett has come forward claiming to be “Madeline”, an implied mistress whose name appears twice on the album. Brown, for her part, has had a much quieter year. Since completing filming, Brown has adopted a baby girl and relocated to Georgia with her husband, actor Jake Bongiovi. The couple operate an animal rescue centre.
Lily Allen and David Harbour at the premiere of “Violent Night” held at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Not ideal for a 50‑year‑old actor about to promote the finale of one of the biggest young‑adult TV series in television history. The streamer is set to release the show’s highly anticipated finale in three parts with the first on November 26, followed by more episodes on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The fourth season of Stranger Things generated 140.7 million views in its first 91 days, making it the third‑most popular show of all time on the platform; Time Magazine reported that it has earned Netflix US$1 billion in new subscribers since 2020, with total franchise value estimated at as much as US$20 billion.
Senior Writer, Fashion + Beauty
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