Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour appeared to bury the hatchet with a united front at the Stranger Things Season 5 premiere — but the smiles may have masked months of reported behind-the-scenes tension.
The 21-year-old actress, who plays Eleven in the hit Netflix series, didn’t hold back her excitement as she reunited with her on-screen father figure, played by Harbour, 50.
But the red carpet reunion comes just weeks after reports surfaced that Brown had filed a formal harassment and bullying complaint against her co-star.
Brown and Harbour Share Warm Moments at Premiere
Despite the alleged fallout, Brown sang Harbour’s praises during a red carpet interview with Extra, gushing: “We’re so lucky to have each other. The show means so much to the both of us and to everyone here.”
Reflecting on the series' emotional end, she added: “This has been the last 10 years of our lives. We’ve dedicated a lot of it, and we’re so excited to see that come to screen.”
Photos from the premiere showed the duo laughing, hugging, and appearing at ease — but body language expert Judi James wasn’t entirely convinced by the cheerful display. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she noted that their behavior appeared overly enthusiastic.
“Millie and David are shown in two key moments here: apparently meeting up while he is signing autographs for the fans and then during their set poses on the carpet,” James said. “Both times there seems to be a mutual intent to show a playful style of cheery friendliness.”
Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour put on a united front amid the recent allegations. Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
Body Language Expert Calls Interaction ‘Overkill’
In a moment captured on camera, Brown approached Harbour with a playful gesture, pretending to sign an autograph near his face.
“Millie seems to make the move to greet David in front of the fans in one clip and she approaches him with a mimed joke, holding her pen up in the air and appearing to pretend to sign an autograph close to his face while he responds by leaning back and roaring with delighted laughter,” James observed.
“Millie wriggles her body at her own joke, and the pair combine eye contact, sharing what looks like some overkill chuckling,” she added.
The hug that followed seemed genuine, at least on the surface. “David immediately leans in to hug Millie, as though delighted to see her, and their faces are held close while Millie places a hand onto his shoulder. Her eyes are closed in her smile here as though signaling she is happy enough with the moment,” James said.
On the red carpet, James explained there were no obvious signs of tension.
“Their torso proximity seems close and his hand around Millie’s waist looks like a polite ‘gentleman’s hand’ gesture with the fingers held away rather than holding or squeezing,” she stated. “Brown’s free hand on her leg shows no obvious signs of tension here.”
James also pointed out that Brown wasn’t just playing to the cameras — she was actively engaging Harbour.
“Rather than just smiling to the front, restricting her attention to the cameras, she looks up at David and when he cracks a quip she looks keen to respond emphatically, squeezing her eyes shut to laugh and inclining her head towards him in a gesture of appreciation,” James said.
And when Harbour delivered a second joke, Brown responded with animated laughter: “His second quip receives what is almost an overkill response from her as she suggests she is helpless with laughter, again with her eyes closed and mouth open and her right hand placed onto her rib area as she giggles loudly,” James noted.
Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour at the season five premiere. Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty
Behind the scenes, however, tensions have simmered. According to The Mail on Sunday, Brown filed a harassment and bullying complaint against Harbour before production began on the final season.
A source claimed: “Millie Bobby Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim before they started shooting the last season. There were pages and pages of accusations. The investigation went on for months.”
Although there were no allegations of sexual impropriety, the complaint triggered an internal inquiry into Harbour’s behavior.