Afton Williamson, who played LAPD training officer Talia Bishop on ABC’s The Rookie, has announced that she is leaving the series after experiencing what she described as bullying, sexual harassment, racist comments, and sexual assault while working on the show. In a powerful Instagram post shared on Sunday, Williamson detailed her reasons for quitting, which included claims of racial discrimination and abuse both on and off the set, starting from the pilot through the first season.
According to Williamson, she was subjected to “racially charged inappropriate comments from the hair department” and faced bullying from the show’s executive producers during the production of the pilot. She alleged that the situation worsened over time, with a “recurring guest star” sexually harassing her and the harassment from the hair department escalating into sexual assault at the show’s wrap party.
Williamson said she reported the sexual harassment to showrunner Alexi Hawley, but claimed that the matter was not properly documented or addressed, with no formal HR investigation taking place. “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,” she wrote in her post. “HR protocol was never adhered to following the reports I made to my Showrunner/EP, and no investigation was initiated for any of my claims.”
In her post, Williamson described a meeting she had with Hawley, two producers, her agent, and a representative from SAG-AFTRA in June, after ABC had renewed The Rookie for a second season. Williamson claimed that during this meeting, it was clear that her complaints had not been shared with the producers. She was reassured that the actor involved in the harassment would be fired, but was still asked to film with him the following day despite her discomfort. Williamson also alleged that this actor was not fired and appeared again later in the season, with her even written into scenes alongside him.
When the actress asked about the status of the situation, Williamson claimed Hawley told her that the actor had not been fired, and that the harassment had not been reported to HR. Despite being told “everything was handled,” Williamson stated that no investigation had begun before filming for Season 2 started, leading her to make the decision to walk away from the show.
“I turned it down and I walked,” Williamson wrote. “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.'”
Williamson’s exit from The Rookie has sparked a conversation about the treatment of actors, particularly women of color, in the entertainment industry. Her decision to leave the show highlights the ongoing issues surrounding racism, harassment, and the lack of accountability in Hollywood. As of now, ABC and Nathan Fillion’s representatives have yet to respond to the allegations.
Williamson’s brave decision to speak out underscores the importance of addressing abuse and mistreatment in the workplace, as well as ensuring that those who come forward with complaints are met with the proper support and action.
