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Stranger Things creators respond to claims they verbally abused women on set

Duffer brothers said that while 'tempers occasionally get frayed' they believe in 'treating everyone fairly'

Roisin O'Connor
Monday 12 March 2018 09:45 GMT
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Stranger Things writers/producers Matt and Ross Duffer attend the 74th annual Golden Globe awards, January 2017
Stranger Things writers/producers Matt and Ross Duffer attend the 74th annual Golden Globe awards, January 2017

Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators and showrunners of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, have responded to claims by an alleged former crewmember that they were "abusive" to women on set.

Instagram user @peytonnrbown, a self-described "lady grip" from Atalanta, US, wrote a post where she claimed to have witnessed "two men in high positions of power on [that] set seek out and verbally abuse multiple women.

"I promised myself that if I were ever in a situation to say something that I would," she wrote.

H. Peyton Brown is credited as a member of the camera department for nine episodes of Stranger Things on IMDb.

While the Duffer brothers were not named directly in the post, Brown did in later comments - which have since been hidden.

In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, the Duffer brothers said they were "deeply upset" to learn someone felt uncomfortable on set.

"Due to the high-stress nature of production, tempers occasionally get frayed, and for that, we apologise. However, we think it is important not to mischaracterise 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."

Netflix also issued a response which read: "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."

Stranger Things was renewed for a third season last year, with a return date yet to be announced.

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