‘The Rookie’ Star Quits Show Amid Claims Of Sexual Harassment And Racial Discrimination

(Photo Credit: ABC/Ed Herrera)

Bella Breakdown

When the ABC drama “The Rookie” returns for its second season, it will be without one of its main stars. Afton Williamson, who starred as Talia Bishop announced that she wouldn’t be reprising her role opposite Nathan Fillon. However, it wasn’t until this past weekend that the nature of her departure was revealed.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Williamson claimed that racial discrimination and sexual harassment were the main reasons for her quitting the series. According to Williamson, she quit the show when her many complaints throughout the show’s season one run went unanswered.

“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,” she wrote. Williamson then went on to name the people involved in the alleged harassment as guest star Demetrius Grosse and hair department head Sally Ciganovich.

“After my initial report of sexual harassment, I was assured that Grosse 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,” Williamson said. “Grosse 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 Grosse had not been fired nor had he gotten HR involved.”

Since Williamson’s claim, ABC and the show’s production company announced that an internal investigation would be taken and further action was being pursued. “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,” an eOne spokesperson said.