David Harbour clears air after bullying claims

David Harbour says his relationship with Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown is rooted in a “rupture-and-repair” moment, following earlier reports that Brown filed a bullying and harassment complaint before production of the show’s fifth season.

David Harbour didn’t dodge the question about Millie Bobby Brown.

Seven months after a report said Brown filed a bullying and harassment complaint against him before production of Stranger Things’ fifth season began. Harbour is now putting his own timeline and tone on the record. He framed their long partnership as something that comes with the kind of friction that happens inside families—then gets resolved.

“It’s a show that went on for 10 years. We worked together for 10 years during her formative teenage years, playing father and daughter,” Harbour told Variety.

Harbour described what those years looked like in practice: disagreements, arguments, and the chance to move past them. “I don’t know if people have families and friends that you spend a lot of time with for 10 years — you occasionally get in arguments. disagreements. In families, it’s OK because you’re just in a disagreement and then you come back together,” he said.

When asked about the state of their relationship, Harbour turned the story toward repair. He said he had “a simple rupture-and-repair thing” with Brown, and called their rift “just a simple rupture-and-repair thing.”

Clearing the air, he said, came down to one-on-one conversation and getting “everybody out of the way.” Harbour added, “We’re fine… it was completely normal, and we adore each other and always have.”

He also suggested the collaboration isn’t frozen in time, teasing that audiences could still see more of both him and Brown. “You’ll see more of me and Millie — 10 years wasn’t enough. There is a special bond there. I love her. She loves me,” Harbour said.

Brown. meanwhile. has repeatedly spoken in the same direction—insisting their on-set bond remained secure as the series moved from Season 1 through Season 5. In a statement to Variety. she reflected on how their dynamic changed as the show went on. saying. “I changed so much from Season 1 to Season 5. and David was there through all of it. Over time, our relationship became much more collaborative creatively.”.

She added, “When you work with someone for that many years, we could really push each other emotionally in scenes. Even though the series has ended, there’s still a lot of gratitude. Getting to share that experience with him for so many years is something I’ll always remember and value. ” explaining that she had continued to shut down any suggestion of discomfort on set.

The contrast between Harbour’s “rupture-and-repair” framing and the earlier bullying-complaint reporting is at the center of the current conversation. That back-and-forth comes even with Brown’s earlier remarks from the same world—when reports surfaced the month she allegedly filed the complaint. She told Deadline then that she felt safe working alongside Harbour, saying, “Of course, I felt safe. I mean, we’ve worked together for 10 years. I feel safe with everyone on that set.”.

For now, Harbour’s message is straightforward: whatever tension existed, he says it was handled, repaired, and never disrupted the bond that powered their father-daughter roles—Jim Hopper and Eleven—across a decade of Stranger Things.

David Harbour Millie Bobby Brown Stranger Things Jim Hopper Eleven bullying complaint harassment report fifth season Variety Deadline