Following Millie Bobby Brown's announcement that she would be skipping the Stranger Things finale event, David Harbour is also reportedly not attending, fueling speculation and controversy surrounding the hit Netflix series. The Paley Center in New York City is scheduled to host the Stranger Things: The Final Season Celebration on December 18, but Harbour's name has been removed from the event's red carpet, screening, and panel listings.
A spokesperson for the Paley Center confirmed that Harbour is no longer attending due to a scheduling conflict. However, this announcement follows reports of Harbour's "erratic behavior," sparking concern among fans. TMZ reported a "truly bizarre incident" where the actor allegedly stole a fan's hat.
Adding to the drama, Harbour's absence comes after months of personal and professional upheaval. This includes his recent separation from Lily Allen earlier in the year and earlier reports of on-set tensions with Brown, who allegedly accused him of harassment on the sets of the Netflix show. These allegations, which surfaced in November, claimed Brown filed a formal complaint against Harbour before filming the final season, citing bullying and workplace harassment. While the complaint reportedly did not include allegations of a sexual nature, Brown was allegedly accompanied by a lawyer throughout production.
Despite the rumors, some sources suggest that Harbour's decision to skip promotional events is unrelated to any personal conflict with Brown. E! News reported that Harbour was never officially confirmed to attend the Stranger Things Season 5 press tour, and his absence was due to filming Courteney Cox's upcoming project, Evil Genius. In fact, Harbour attended the Stranger Things Season 5 premiere in Los Angeles on November 6, and appeared to be on good terms with Brown.
Brown's absence from the finale event is attributed to a recent injury. She missed a scheduled appearance on Good Morning America on December 15, where her co-star Noah Schnapp discussed the upcoming final episodes. Brown sent a video message explaining her absence, stating she had "a little fall, but she's fine".
The absence of two of the show's major stars from the finale event has intensified scrutiny and speculation surrounding the Stranger Things final season. Executive producer Shawn Levy assured fans that the finale would resolve the "Jancy Stancy controversy/triangle" and be "as good as any TV series finale I've seen in my life". The highly anticipated final episodes are set to drop on New Year's Eve, following the release of earlier episodes around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Despite the behind-the-scenes controversies, the cast is reportedly planning to watch the series finale together.
Meanwhile, some fans have expressed frustration over Netflix's decision to prioritize streaming over a theatrical release for the finale, with tickets selling out quickly.
