ABC’s ‘The Rookie’ Star Quits Show Amid Claims of Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination

August 18, 2019

On Sunday, Afton Williamson, star of ABC’s ‘The Rookie,” announced she would not be returning to the drama starring Nathan Fillion.

The Rookie actress says she was the victim of sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

The actress, who co-starred on the cop drama from showrunner Alexi Hawley (Castle), ABC Studios and Entertainment One, announced her departure from the show in a lengthy post on her verified Instagram account.

Williamson claims she experienced racial discrimination and racially charged inappropriate comments from the hair department as well as from the drama’s executive producers starting with the pilot and continuing throughout the show’s first season. What’s more, the actress says the harassment was reported to Hawley and the showrunner never passed it along to human resources. Her issues escalated into sexual assault during The Rookie’s wrap party, she said.

Sources say Entertainment One — the lead studio on The Rookie — launched and has an ongoing investigation into Williamson’s claims. It’s unclear if the investigation was opened before or after Williamson departed the show. News of her departure hit the press July 26 and sources say she made the decision to not return for season two a few days before that.

“The allegations involve a production from Entertainment One. In late June, eOne made us aware and informed us that they launched an investigation that is ongoing. The safety of working environments is a top priority for us, and we take this matter very seriously,” an ABC spokesperson said in a statement.

“We take claims of this nature very seriously. We have initiated an independent investigation which is ongoing and as such, it would not be appropriate to comment at this time,” eOne said in a statement of its own late Sunday afternoon.

Williamson’s full post from Instagram is below.

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.”

Being able to work in an evironment that is free from discrimination and harassment of any kind is part of our basic human rights and freedoms. When unlawful conduct affects your employment, unreasonably interferes with your work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, our Florida Employment Discrimination Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you recover financial compensation for your suffering.

We routinely represent employees who have suffered discrimination based on their race, age, disability, taking of protected leave for medical reasons, or to care for a family member under the Family and Medical Leave Act, national origin, gender – including pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and religion.

We can help with all types of workplace discrimination cases, including:

• Acts that occur before employment begins, like discriminatory hiring practices
• Acts that occur during employment, such as discrimination in compensation, promotions, or other terms and conditions of employment
• Acts that result from the taking of protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act
• Acts that result in employment ending, such as wrongful termination
• Any retaliatory actions employees face from their employers following a complaint about discrimination and harassment at work

If you have been the victim of any type of employment discrimination, let our Florida Employment Lawyers at Whittel & Melton provide you with a free case evaluation so that you can understand how best to proceed.