‘the rookie’ actress quits, alleges sexual misconduct

Actress Afton Williamson is coming forward about the reason behind her exit from ABC’s The Rookie, and her accusations ain’t pretty. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Williamson alleged that while working on the show, racist comments, bullying, and sexual harassment claims were largely ignored and swept under the rug. She claims that some of this behavior came from executive producers, the hair department, and a recurring guest star. This time, Williamson claims, she brought the issues to showrunner, Alexi Hawley, but her allegations were never investigated and the aforementioned guest star was able to continue appearing on the show. According to Shadow and Act, Williamson also said that the sexual harassment from the hair department escalated to sexual assault at the wrap party for season 1. In the end, the hair department head was the only one fired, while many continued to perpetuate “racism/racially charged language and bullying behavior in and out of the hair and makeup trailer.”

The following season, Williamson said she was asked not to participate in an investigation into her claims until after Season 2 was announced. With that came the reassurance that the guest actor would be fired. But by the time filming came around, she was asked to film with said actor, who hadn’t been fired after all. “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,” Williamson wrote on Instagram.

Post-#MeToo, it’s so alarming to continue to hear stories like this one and that of The Chi co-star Tiffany Boone, who earlier this year, alleged a culture of sexual harassment perpetrated by Jason Mitchell with no accountability by the show and network.

When asked about Williamson’s exit, Hawley told TVLine, “It’s not really my place to get into her personal decision.”