Millie Bobby Brown has never been one to shy away from speaking her mind, but in recent months, the Stranger Things star has made it clear she’s done tolerating public criticism about her looks — and, according to new reports, she’s also standing her ground behind the scenes.
At just 21 years old, Brown has already lived a lifetime in the public eye. Her career began when she was still a child, catapulting her to global fame through her role as Eleven in Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things. But fame at such a young age has come with constant scrutiny — especially about her appearance — and Brown is now calling it out directly.
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Millie Pushes Back: “Get off my case. I am 21.”
In a recent interview, Brown opened up about the relentless commentary surrounding her style and transformation into adulthood. As she explained, experimenting with her hair and makeup has become a point of controversy for some critics online.
“If me being blonde or wearing more make-up really bothers you, I’m going to address it – not just for myself, but for every other girl who wants to try a new hairstyle or wear a red lip,” she said. “It’s, like, get off my fucking case, you know? I am 21. I am going to have fun and play and be myself.”
The Enola Holmes actress said she’s often baffled by how quickly public opinion can shift. After tabloids accused her of “looking old” or “changing too much,” she posted a video calling them out. The next thing she knew, the same publications were running flattering headlines instead. “They were like, ‘Millie stuns in this dress.’ How do you change your mind that quickly?” she said, clearly frustrated by the hypocrisy.
Brown summarized some of the comments she saw written about her — harsh criticisms that questioned her looks and even her choice of hair color. “‘Oh my God, what has she done with her face? Why has she gone blonde? She looks 60 years old,’” she recalled.
Drawing a Line with the Media
Brown made it clear that her issue isn’t with journalism itself but with how young women in entertainment are targeted by the press. “I respect journalism. I love reading articles on my favourite people and hearing what they’re up to. I understand that there’s paparazzi, even though it’s invasive, even though it feels like shit to me – I know that’s your job,” she said.
“But don’t, in your headline, slam me at the get-go. It is so wrong and it is bullying, especially to young girls who are new to this industry and are already questioning everything about it.”
Those words come from experience. Brown has been in front of cameras for more than half her life. When Stranger Things debuted in 2016, she was only 12 years old. Her breakout role as Eleven instantly made her one of the most recognizable young actors in the world — but it also meant growing up with every haircut, outfit, and facial expression dissected online.
Over the years, she’s faced social media backlash for everything from what she wears on red carpets to how she styles her hair. What would be considered normal experimentation for any young adult has often been framed as controversy for her.
“For some reason people can’t seem to grow up with me,” she once said. “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time… And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”
Brown’s comments highlight a recurring theme among former child stars — the struggle to be seen as an adult once the world has decided to define you as a kid.
Taking Control and Protecting the Next Generation
Despite the criticism, Brown has used her platform to take control of her image and advocate for change. She has expanded her career beyond acting, launching her beauty and lifestyle brand Florence by Mills and taking on more behind-the-camera roles as a producer.
Now married to Jake Bongiovi, Brown has also stepped into motherhood, adopting a daughter with her husband. That new chapter has given her a deeper understanding of the need to protect young people from the pressures she faced. “If she chooses to share her personality one day with the world, like I did when I was young, that’s something we’d support,” Brown said of her daughter. “But right now, as she’s so little… As her parents, it’s our job to protect her from that.”
Brown’s remarks underline just how much the experience of fame has shaped her perspective. She isn’t just reacting to criticism anymore — she’s setting boundaries and encouraging others to do the same.
Trouble Behind the Scenes: Reports of Conflict with David Harbour
While Brown has been busy defending herself publicly, reports have also surfaced about tensions within the Stranger Things cast. According to multiple outlets, Brown filed a harassment and bullying claim against her co-star David Harbour, who plays her on-screen father, Jim Hopper, before production began on the show’s fifth and final season.
Sources claimed the complaint included several pages of accusations, prompting an internal investigation that reportedly lasted for months. The claims did not involve any sexual misconduct. Brown was also said to have a personal representative present during filming of the new season, which wrapped in late 2024.
Representatives for Brown, Harbour, and Netflix have declined to comment on the reports, leaving the situation shrouded in speculation.
The alleged conflict is particularly striking given the close relationship the two stars once described publicly. Over the years, Brown and Harbour frequently spoke about their real-life connection mirroring that of their characters. Back in 2018, a then-14-year-old Brown told the audience at PaleyFest, “We went through so many different emotions… we get angry at each other, we are like father and daughter. We got angry at each other and we would express our feelings on and off the set, and those scenes were so raw and real that the reward is the scenes.”
For his part, Harbour echoed that sentiment several times over the years. In one interview, he said he had a “deep fatherly affection” for Brown, whom he’d known since she was a child. “I worry about her and the fame and all that she has to struggle with. And I’ve just always felt this kind of deep fatherly affection for her,” he said.
The contrast between those warm memories and the recent allegations has fueled speculation about what may have happened behind the scenes. Neither party has spoken publicly about the reported complaint, but fans are paying close attention as Netflix prepares to release the final season of Stranger Things.
From Child Star to Powerful Voice
What’s clear is that Millie Bobby Brown is no longer content to be silent — not about her appearance, not about the media, and not about her working environment. After years of being portrayed as the “kid from Stranger Things,” she’s now asserting herself as an adult who deserves to be taken seriously.
Her decision to speak out about appearance-based criticism resonates with many who’ve faced similar judgment online. And while the situation with Harbour remains unresolved publicly, it further underscores Brown’s willingness to stand up for herself in every arena — even against powerful institutions or longtime colleagues.
As the final season of Stranger Things approaches, all eyes will be on how Brown and her co-stars navigate their last run together. But beyond the hit show that made her a star, Brown is building something larger: a career and identity defined by her own voice, not by public expectations.
For someone who’s spent more than half her life under a microscope, that may be her biggest victory yet.
