Stranger Things season 5 is inching closer, but a new report suggests tensions surfaced behind the scenes between two of the Netflix hit’s biggest stars. According to the U.K.’s Mail on Sunday, Millie Bobby Brown allegedly filed a workplace complaint accusing her co-star David Harbour of harassment and bullying ahead of production on the final season.
The outlet reports the complaint was submitted before cameras rolled on season 5 and prompted an internal inquiry that stretched on for months. Netflix declined to comment to the publication, and the outcome of the reported investigation remains unknown at this time. The report states there were no allegations of sexual impropriety.
What The Report Alleges
Per the Mail on Sunday, the claim filed by Brown included “pages and pages” of alleged bullying behaviors and workplace concerns tied to on-set conduct. The publication notes that while the focus was squarely on workplace behavior, it did not involve any claims of sexual misconduct. No further details of the specific alleged incidents were made public.
Harbour portrays Jim Hopper, Hawkins’ police chief and Eleven’s adoptive father in the series, a relationship that has anchored the show’s emotional core since season 1. Brown has led the ensemble as Eleven since the pilot, making their on-screen bond one of the franchise’s defining dynamics. The report does not indicate whether production schedules were affected or whether any remedial actions were recommended or taken following the internal review.
Netflix has not issued a statement addressing the claims, and representatives for Brown and Harbour have not publicly commented on the report as of publication. Without official confirmation, details remain limited, and the status of the alleged investigation has not been verified beyond the Mail on Sunday’s account.
Harbour & Brown’s Public Dynamic
The report arrives in contrast to previous public comments from Harbour about his relationship with Brown throughout the show’s run. During a 2021 appearance on the podcast That Scene with Dan Patrick, Harbour spoke warmly about meeting Brown when she was very young and watching her career explode with Stranger Things. He described feeling a protective, fatherly instinct toward his co-star, adding that he worried about the challenges of fame for her at such an early age.
“I knew her before any of this big fame hit,” Harbour said at the time, noting he had “a real protective feeling” for her and “a deep fatherly affection.” Those remarks have resurfaced online as the new report circulates, underscoring the contrast between the duo’s long-professed bond off-screen and the alleged on-set tensions described in the complaint.
Brown and Harbour have frequently shared the screen in some of the show’s most pivotal moments, from Hopper becoming Eleven’s legal guardian to their strained reunion after Hopper’s season 3 cliffhanger and season 4’s globe-spanning rescue. The pair’s chemistry has often been cited by fans as a central reason the series’ character drama resonates as strongly as its supernatural spectacle.
Timing Ahead Of Stranger Things Season 5
The allegation surfaces as Stranger Things heads into its endgame. The fifth and final season is set to roll out in two parts, with Part 1 reportedly dropping on November 27 at 1 a.m. GMT, followed by Part 2 on December 26 at the same time. The split-release strategy mirrors other blockbuster genre shows and positions the finale as a year-end television event.
While the report does not suggest any narrative changes to season 5, the show’s conclusion remains one of Netflix’s most anticipated releases, expected to bring closure to the arcs of Eleven, Hopper, and the rest of the Hawkins ensemble as they face the ultimate clash with the Upside Down. The series’ production value, film-sized episodes, and long-gestating character payoffs have been central to Netflix’s marketing since season 4’s supersized rollout.
Harbour has also garnered headlines outside of Hawkins recently. His former partner, singer Lily Allen, released a new album titled West End Girl that listeners have interpreted as referencing their breakup. On the track “Madeline,” Allen sings, “I can’t trust anything that comes out of your mouth / I’m not convinced that he didn’t f*** you in our house.” Neither Allen nor Harbour has publicly clarified the song’s intended subject, and Harbour has not commented on the lyric’s speculation.
For now, the Stranger Things report remains just that—a report—until Netflix or the parties involved address it directly. As the countdown to season 5 continues, the focus will inevitably return to the series’ final chapter and the culmination of the Duffer Brothers’ Hawkins saga. Whether any of the alleged behind-the-scenes issues impact promotion or appearances leading up to the release is unclear.
Stranger Things has maintained a unique position in the streaming landscape since its 2016 debut, spiking interest with each season thanks to its mix of Spielbergian adventure, Stephen King-inspired horror, and a cast that matured into household names. The Brown–Harbour dynamic has been particularly foundational to that success. Any friction between the actors, if confirmed, would be notable given how much the show’s heart rests on their characters’ makeshift family bond.
Until further clarification, viewers should expect the series to continue its rollout as planned, with the promise of a Hawkins send-off years in the making. After nearly a decade of Demogorgons, Dungeons & Dragons nods, and synth-fueled suspense, Stranger Things is preparing to turn out the lights—on-screen, at least—while off-screen conversations add a complicated final chapter to one of Netflix’s defining hits.
