Stranger Things Creators Refute On-Set Abuse Claims

Brothers Matt and Ross Duffer released a statement on the claims Sunday
By Josh Gardner,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 11, 2018 4:27 PM CDT
Stranger Things Creators 'Upset' Over Claims of Abusive Set
Ross Duffer, left, and Matt Duffer arrive at the Celebration of the 69th Emmy Award Nominees for Outstanding Casting   (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

In the wake of reports that a crew member on Netflix series Stranger Things called the set "abusive," creators Matt and Ross Duffer issued a response Sunday to USA Today. "We are deeply upset to learn that someone felt uncomfortable on our set," the statement said in part. The response came days after an Instagram post purported to be from a crew member, reportedly named Peyton Brown, claimed "multiple women" were verbally abused on set. While apologizing for any tenseness on the set, the Duffers refuted the claim that women were targeted. "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," the statement read.

In the March 8 Instagram post, the writer claimed to have seen two men "in high positions... seek out and verbally abuse" multiple women. "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," the post goes continued. According to Deadline, Peyton confirmed in the comments that she was referring to the Duffers. In a statement, Netflix mirrored the Brothers' response in the USA Today report, saying an internal review had failed to substantiate the claims. "Maintaining a safe, respectful atmosphere on set is important to us, and we know it is to the Duffer Brothers as well," the company said.
(More Netflix stories.)

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