David Harbour gushed about his fatherly love for “Stranger Things” co-star Millie Bobby Brown years before she allegedly accused him of bullying and harassment.
In 2021, Harbour reflected on his “special” bond with Brown while appearing on an episode of the “That Scene with Dan Patrick” podcast.
“I’ve just always felt this kind of deep fatherly affection for her,” Harbour, now 50, said at the time.
Harbour recalled how Brown was just 12 when they first started filming the first season of their Netflix show, which premiered in 2016.
“Millie and I have always had sort of a special relationship because I knew her when she was so young. I knew her before any of this big fame hit,” Harbour explained.
“I have a real protective feeling for her. I have a real, like, worry,” he continued. “I worry about her and the fame and all that she has to struggle with.”
Harbour’s character, Jim Hopper Jr., became the adoptive father of Brown’s character, Eleven, in the popular horror series.
While he is a father figure to Brown on and off-screen, their dynamic has apparently changed on set in recent years.
A source claimed this week that the “Enola Holmes” actress, now 21, filed a lengthy complaint accusing Harbour of bullying and harassment before the cast started filming the fifth and final season.
“Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season,” a source told the Daily Mail in an article published Saturday.
“There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months.”
Brown was allegedly accompanied by a personal representative while filming the series finale.
Netflix allegedly conducted an internal investigation over Brown’s claims, though it’s unclear if the company concluded the inquiry. However, it’s understood that he was not accused of any sexual impropriety in the filing.
Page Six did not hear back from reps for Brown, Harbour and Netflix when reached for comment.
A Netflix source claimed that the streaming service’s reaction to the report is telling.
“The fact they’ve not denied it speaks volumes,” the insider said, adding, “‘Stranger Things’ helped put Netflix on the map. Millions of fans around the world have been anticipating the finale. No one wants anything to take attention away from that.’”
“It will be a theatrical event,” the insider continued. “Nothing is going to overshadow this, not even the leading man’s private life.”
The source did say that Netflix never comments on internal investigations.
Another source told Daily Mail that Harbour’s now-estranged wife, Lily Allen, was by his side during the ordeal.
“Lily supported him throughout it all. It was a brutal time,” the source said.
Harbour and the “Smile” singer separated in February after four years together. Allen then hinted that Harbour had cheated on her in her “West End Girl” album, which dropped last month.
Rumors have since surfaced that Harbour had an affair with Natalie Tippett, a costume designer from one of his projects.
