Stranger Things stars Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour appeared cheerful as they posed for the cameras during a recent promotional event for the hit Netflix series. Their public appearance came just days after reports surfaced alleging that Brown, who plays Eleven, had accused Harbour of bullying on set.

The show’s co-creator Ross Duffer and director Shawn Levy have now dismissed the claims, describing the cast as a close-knit group that has worked together for nearly a decade. According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Duffer and Levy emphasised that the set has always been a safe and respectful environment.

Ross Duffer said, “Obviously, you understand I can't get into personal onset matters, but I will say we've been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they're family and we deeply care about them. So, you know, nothing matters more than just having a set where everyone feels safe and happy.”

Director and executive producer Shawn Levy echoed Duffer’s statement, saying that creating a secure and professional atmosphere is always their top priority.

“At the end of the day, that's the job. You have to create a respectful workplace where everyone feels comfortable and safe, and so we did everything to build that environment. And we're proud of the fact that we did so.”

Levy also addressed the circulating media reports, saying, “I've read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to… there's so much noise around it. But the truth is that we view this crew and this cast as family, and so we treat each other with respect, and that's always been bedrock.”

Has Netflix or the cast responded?

So far, Netflix and the representatives of both Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour have not commented publicly on the controversy.

A UK media report had earlier claimed that Brown had filed a harassment and bullying complaint against the 50-year-old actor, who portrays her adoptive father, Jim Hopper, in the series.

When will the final season release?

The fifth and final season of ‘Stranger Things’ will be released in three parts. The first part, featuring four episodes, will premiere on 26 November.

The next set of episodes will arrive on 25 December, followed by a feature-length series finale that will debut both on Netflix and in select cinemas on 31 December.