David Harbour is speaking publicly for the first time about a mental health crisis he faced in late 2025. The Stranger Things star says a false tabloid story about his co-star Millie Bobby Brown played a big part in triggering the episode. The 51-year-old actor, who has bipolar disorder, shared these details in a new interview with Variety.
The trouble started when the U.K. Daily Mail published a report claiming Brown had filed “pages and pages” of harassment and bullying claims against Harbour. This story came out just one week after his ex-wife, Lily Allen, released her album “West End Girl,” which included critical songs about their marriage. Harbour called the timing “weird.”
“I had a breakdown.” – David Harbour to Variety
Harbour made it clear the tabloid report was false. He explained that working on a show as big as Stranger Things for 10 years comes with natural ups and downs. He compared his relationship with Brown to a real family.
“We worked together for 10 years during her formative teenage years, playing father and daughter. I don’t know if people have families and friends that you spend a lot of time with for 10 years — you occasionally get in arguments, disagreements. In families, it’s OK because you’re just in a disagreement, and then you come back together. The problem with a billion-dollar show is that there’s just hundreds of people who want to get involved.” – David Harbour
Harbour Admits to Embarrassing Behavior During Stressful Times
The actor did not hide from his own actions. He admitted that he sometimes behaved in ways he is not proud of on the Stranger Things set. Harbour has always been open about living with bipolar disorder. He said extreme stress can cause “erratic behavior.”
“Under times of extreme stress, that can cause somewhat erratic behavior, and it’s embarrassing, and I’m ashamed of it. It’s not something I choose, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.” – David Harbour
Harbour connected his personal struggles to his work as an actor. He believes his sensitivity helps him give strong performances but can also make him act “weird” when life gets too hard. He called the experience of having a mental health episode “confusing as hell” for both the person going through it and their loved ones.
Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour Confirm They Are Still Close
Despite the rumors, both actors say their bond remains strong. Brown released a statement to Variety showing her support for Harbour. She spoke about how their working relationship grew over the ten years of filming.
“Obviously I changed so much from Season 1 to Season 5, and David was there through all of it. Over time, our relationship became much more collaborative creatively. When you work with someone for that many years, we could really push each other emotionally in scenes. Even though the series has ended, there’s still a lot of gratitude. Getting to share that experience with him for so many years is something I’ll always remember and value.” – Millie Bobby Brown
Harbour also said the pair have more projects coming. He teased that fans will see them work together again soon.
“Millie and I are working on several [projects]. You’ll see more of me and Millie — 10 years wasn’t enough. There is a special bond there. I love her. She loves me.” – David Harbour
The two stars showed a united front at the Stranger Things season five premiere in Los Angeles. They were seen hugging and smiling together on the red carpet at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Brown had previously told Deadline she always felt safe around Harbour on set.
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What Happened Between Harbour and Brown on Stranger Things Set
Harbour described the disagreement between them as a “simple rupture-and-repair thing.” He said the media made it into a bigger story than it really was. Once they talked directly to each other without other people getting involved, they solved the problem quickly.
“It was just a simple rupture-and-repair thing that, once we cleared everybody out of the way and talked to each other, we’re fine. Everyone nowadays is very scared of talking about things. People are very scared of being human. It was completely normal, and we adore each other and always have.” – David Harbour
The actor is currently promoting the final season of Stranger Things and his new HBO show DTF St. Louis. He is in the running for an Emmy award for his role in DTF St. Louis, where he plays a character named Floyd Smernitch.
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