ABC’s ‘The Rookie’ star quits show claiming she was sexually harassed and discriminated against

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A Black actress on “The Rookie” has made claims, accusing Hollywood execs of racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and assault which led her to quit the show.

Afton Williamson took to Instagram Sunday, alleging that she was victimized by executive producers of the ABC drama series and the show’s hair department worker, citing they made “racially charged inappropriate comments.”

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“During the season, it continued along with sexual harassment from a recurring guest star and the racist commentary & bullying from the hair dept.,” she said.

Williamson said she experienced “outward racism” and “bullying behavior” that escalated to sexual assault at the show’s wrap party, NBC News reported.

She also claims that she reported her complaints to the series showrunner, but they were never investigated. However, Williamson confirmed that after the alleged assault, the hair department worker was fired.

 

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I will not be returning for Season 2 of The Rookie. I owe it to you my amazing fans to share the Truth. Throughout the filming of the pilot, I experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers. During the Season, it continued along with Sexual Harassment from a recurring guest star and the racist commentary & bullying from the Hair Dept. Head escalated into Sexual Assault at our Wrap party.The Sexual Harassment though reported directly to the Showrunner/EP remained undocumented and was not reported to HR as promised. The Hair Dept. Head was fired ONLY after the sexual assault and NOT for an entire year of outward racism/racially charged language and bullying behavior in and out of the Hair and Makeup trailer. HR protocol was never adhered to following the above reports given by me to my Showrunner/EP and an investigation was never issued for any of my claims. The only time I was asked to participate in an investigation was after a meeting I called in June following our Season 2 announcement. This meeting included the Showrunner and two other producers as well as my agent and SAG-AFTRA Union Rep. It was clear to all present in the meeting that the Showrunner had not shared my reports with the any of the producers. After my initial report of sexual harassment, I was assured that the actor would be fired. I was also asked to film with him the very next day as a courtesy to the script, even though we had not begun filming the episode yet. This actor reappeared on our call sheet at the end of the season, I was even written in scenes with him. I asked the Showrunner about this and he admitted to me that the actor had not been fired nor had he gotten HR involved. I was asked to return this season, and promised that “everything was handled.” The investigation hadn’t even begun and Season 2 had already started filming. I turned it down and I walked. Now is the best time in the world to be a woman and I have a platform so it’s time to use my Voice. Strength comes from within. It comes from Above. “Greater is He that is within Me than he that is in the world” ❤️??

A post shared by Afton Williamson (@therealaftonw) on Aug 4, 2019 at 1:12am PDT

“I will not be returning for Season 2 of The Rookie. I owe it to you my amazing fans to share the Truth. Throughout the filming of the pilot, I experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers. During the Season, it continued along with Sexual Harassment from a recurring guest star and the racist commentary & bullying from the Hair Dept. Head escalated into Sexual Assault at our Wrap party.The Sexual Harassment though reported directly to the Showrunner/EP remained undocumented and was not reported to HR as promised,” she said in a lengthy post.

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Williamson’s allegations involved a production from the company EntertainmentOne, an ABC spokeswoman said in a statement.

“In late June, eOne made us aware and informed us that they launched an investigation that is ongoing,” the spokeswoman said. “The safety of working environments is a top priority for us, and we take this matter very seriously.”

EntertainmentOne, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, that it was investigating.

“As such, it would not be appropriate to comment at this time,” the statement said.