Following allegations of sexual harassment and racial discrimination from Afton Williamson on ABC’s The Rookie, production company Entertainment One (eOne) released the findings of its internal investigation and ultimately ruled that there was no evidence of inappropriate behavior. “As a result of the independent investigation, we have concluded that those identified in Ms. Williamson’s allegations did not conduct themselves in an unlawful manner or demonstrate behavior inappropriate for the workplace,†reads the statement. “It was also concluded that the executive producers, including showrunner Alexi Hawley, addressed matters of which they were made aware promptly and in a fair and reasonable manner.†The statement also says that the investigation “encompassed nearly 400 hours of interviews and review of evidence.â€
Williamson first spoke out about her experience on the show in August, detailing bullying from the show’s producers, as well as sexual harassment from a guest star, later identified as Demetrius Grosse. The show, which returns on September 29, will reportedly not be killing off Williamson’s character, but instead will “organically†write the character off the series.
Update, September 21: Demetrius Grosse has responded to Williamson’s claims for the first time, now that he has been officially cleared by eOne’s investigation. “As you can imagine, It’s been an [sic] very challenging time. I am grateful to my family, friends and colleagues who have been so supportive,†he wrote on social media. “I will continue to be an assertive advocate for the respect acknowledgment and advancement for women both in-and-out of the workplace. Blessings.†In an additional screenshot, Grosse included a statement from his attorney, who claimed the actor lost “multiple†jobs due to being “libeled†by Williamson. ABC has yet to confirm if Grosse would be returning for The Rookie’s second season.