Making such a pivot, Torossian says, would ideally amount to Harbour and the streamer each issuing a public statement about the controversy, which neither rave has done yet. “For Harbour, I’d advise a special, factual statement and a short step back until the situation is clarified; no grandstanding, no overexplaining,” Torossian says. “For Netflix, I’d focus on protecting the integrity of the show while ensuring an open, responsible breakdown process. Both sides should aim to lower the temperature, not fuel the fire…. What matters is moving speedy, controlling the message, and restoring trust.”
Nicole Rodrigues, founder and CEO of crisis-management and reputation-strategy agency NRPR Group, disagrees to some degree, telling VF that a major publicity pivot isn’t necessary at this stage. “The ‘we are one big family’ narrative has always been part of the Stranger Things brand,” she says. “Netflix doesn’t need to necessarily abandon that since there are still great bonds and dynamics between other cast members and a long history of togetherness—even, historically, between Harbour and Brown.” Still, she agrees that emphasizing the show itself can only help mitigate the fallout from Harbour’s dual PR crises.
If she were advising Harbour, she’d tell him to ignore Allen’s album: “Let that naturally die in the press cycle.” Brown’s alleged harassment claims are more consequential. “That needs to be addressed seriously, at the right time. I would advise, in the next few days, a very calm, reflective statement—not being defensive or combative. Acknowledge what’s been going on in his world and be apologetic and reflective.”
Harbour’s woes do not mark the first controversy Stranger Things has weathered across its near decade onscreen. Actor Noah Schnapp previously came under fire for his comments about Israel and the war in Gaza. But Larry Kopp, the chairman and founder of The TASC Group—who has represented actors Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy—says that if substantiated, the allegations against Harbour could be a “far more serious issue for Stranger Things’ PR strategy” than the Schnapp media firestorm. “From what I’ve seen, audiences often have the ability to separate the art from the creator even if they disagree with an opinion,” Kopp says. “A political controversy can lead to boycotts or social media backlash from a loyal audience, whereas workplace misconduct allegations could harm the show from a legal perspective.”
As of the premiere, though, it seems the two actors at the center of the current Stranger Things scandal are keeping any drama in the “family.” As Brown told Entertainment Tonight at the premiere, she and Harbour have developed a “father-daughter relationship” off-screen due to the vast number of scenes they’ve shared over the past 10 years. “I obviously have a really special bond with David,” Brown said. “It’s been so special to have him along the journey for me.”
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