Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy Set the Record Straight on Millie Bobby Brown’s David Harbour Bully Claims
After chatter about alleged bullying on the Stranger Things set, Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy defend David Harbour and the show’s on-set culture, disputing claims raised by Millie Bobby Brown.
So, about that Stranger Things season 5 premiere: whatever you were expecting after the recent headlines, the carpet was all smiles. Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour were there, chatting, hugging, posing for photos. Not exactly the energy you would predict if the rumored on-set bad blood were the whole story.
Creators address the viral chatter
The Hollywood Reporter asked about the buzz on the red carpet, and the show’s bosses decided to step in. Ross Duffer, standing with his brother Matt, did not get into the weeds, but he made the big-picture point: they have been making this show with the same core cast for a decade, they think of them as family, and the priority is a set where everyone feels safe and happy.
Director and executive producer Shawn Levy went a step further, talking about how the production approaches complaints and culture. He said the job is to build a respectful, comfortable workplace, that they have done everything they can to create that environment, and that they are proud of it. He also pushed back on the discourse swirling around the story and made it clear how the team views their people: cast and crew are family, and mutual respect is non-negotiable.
"I have read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to... there is so much noise around it."
Brown and Harbour on the carpet
THR also posted a video from the event that shows Brown and Harbour reunited in good spirits, talking and taking photos together. Again, not exactly the vibe of a feud. Make of that what you will, but the optics were friendly.
Release plan, because yes, the show is actually coming
Netflix is slicing the final season into three drops, all scheduled to hit at 8pm Eastern:
- Volume 1: November 26
- Volume 2: Christmas Day
- Series finale: New Year's Eve
So, for now, the takeaway is simple: the folks in charge want the focus back on the work, the cast looked cordial in public, and the endgame of Stranger Things is finally on the calendar.