“Stranger Things” creators and showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer apologized on Saturday after a crew member accused the brother team of verbally abusing women on the set of the hit Netflix series.
“We are deeply upset to learn that someone felt uncomfortable on our set,” the Duffers said in a statement responding to former crew member Peyton Brown’s public accusation of “verbal abuse.” “Due to the high-stress nature of production, tempers occasionally get frayed, and for that, we apologize.
“However,” they added, “we think it is important not to mischaracterize our set, where we believe strongly in treating everyone fairly regardless of gender, orientation, race, religion, or anything else. We remain totally committed to providing a safe and collaborative working environment for everyone on our productions.”
In a statement of its own, Netflix said, “We looked into the concern that was raised when we heard of the allegation on Thursday, and found no wrongdoing. Maintaining a safe, respectful atmosphere on set is important to us, and we know it is to the Duffer Brothers as well.”
Brown posted a lengthy message on Instagram on Friday night, saying she wouldn’t be returning to work the sci-fi show’s third season because of what she characterized as abusive behavior by the Duffers toward women on set.
“I personally witnessed two men in high positions of power on that set seek out and verbally abuse multiple women,” Brown wrote. “I promised myself that if I were ever in a situation to say something that I would. I have 11.5 thousand followers who can hear me say this, TIME IS UP.”
Although the Instagram post was deleted, ET Canada had already taken a screen grab, seen below.
Although Brown didn’t identify the Duffer brothers by name in her original post, she responded to a comment to it that asked if she was talking about the Duffers. Brown answered simply, “Yes. I am.”
She went on to say that “there was yelling, there were insults, there were threats and people were even fired or forced to quit because of them.”
Season 3 premiere date of “Stranger Things” hasn’t been announced yet.