Inside the Grooming Allegations: What Really Happened Between Hunter Ecimovic and Millie Bobby Brown?

Millie Bobby Brown is riding a big moment right now, but a few years back, things got messy online in a way that was serious and genuinely upsetting. Here is the short version of what happened with her ex, Hunter Ecimovic, why it blew up, how Brown responded, and where her life is now.

The 2021 blowup, in context

• In 2020, Brown was 16 and Ecimovic was 20. Photos from that period later resurfaced.
• In July 2021, Ecimovic — a TikTok personality — went live on Instagram and made claims about their past relationship. He described himself as having 'groomed' Brown, alleged that her parents knew about what he said was a sexual relationship, insisted there was no lawsuit, and said he lived in her house for eight months.
• His comments spread fast, shocked fans, and drew outrage because Brown was underage during the timeframe he talked about.
• Brown's team responded the next day with a forceful statement, calling his remarks false and harmful, and said they were taking steps to stop him from spreading this any further.

'I will never apologize... I have nothing to apologize for.'

Brown's representatives pushed back hard at the time, telling E! News that his statements were dishonest and dangerous, and that they were moving to shut it down rather than argue with him online.

'Mr. Ecimovic's remarks on social media are not only dishonest, but also are irresponsible, offensive, and hateful... we are taking action to ensure that he stops this behavior once and for all.'

Brown on what she went through

Later, Brown talked about the situation in Allure, calling that past relationship unhealthy and saying she walked away from it in January 2021. She described filming Stranger Things while dealing with everything quietly and feeling extremely vulnerable at the time. When the story went public, she said it felt humiliating and out of her control — but leaving and reclaiming her worth was empowering. She also said that by the time Ecimovic's livestream hit, she had already moved on and was in a new, supportive relationship with Jake Bongiovi.

Where she is now: married life, a farm, and a new baby

Cut to now: Brown and Jake Bongiovi — yes, Jon Bon Jovi's son — are married, and they just announced they adopted a baby girl. The timing lines up to roughly 15 months after their wedding. The couple met through a mutual friend, stayed in touch, and, in a very relatable twist, Brown has said she was the one who called him first, which kicked off the whole thing.

'This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption… We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.'

They live on a quiet farm surrounded by animals, which fits Brown perfectly. She has a long history of rescuing dogs — per BBC reporting, she has helped save more than 200 and fostered many at home. After a brutally public situation a few years ago, she is clearly carving out the life she wants.