Afton Williamson identified ‘The Rookie’ guest star who allegedly harassed her on set
One day after making allegations that she was sexually harassed and racially discriminated against while working on “The Rookie,” Afton Williamson has identified the recurring guest star whom she alleges sexually harassed her.
“This season on ‘The Rookie,’ I was sexually harassed by fellow actor Demetrius Grosse. I was Racially Bullied and Discriminated against and Sexually Assaulted by Hair Department Head Sally Nicole Ciganovich,” Williamson said in a new Instagram post published this evening.
Representatives for Grosse did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment. Neither did reps for shworunner Alexi Hawley and series lead Nathan Fillion.
Williamson brought the allegations to light in an Instagram post published early Sunday morning. In the post, Williamson outlined claims of bullying and harassment against the show’s hair department, a then unnamed series guest star, and executive producers.
20 PHOTOSAfton WilliamsonSee GalleryAfton Williamson
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Actress Afton Williamson attends the Disney and ABC Television 2019 TCA Winter press tour at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on February 05, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
THE ROOKIE – “Homefront” – When one of their colleagues is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the release of three felons whose cases he worked on and the team being asked to check in on them now that they are free. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan finds out he is being sued by a man who claims he used excessive force which led to an injury on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, APRIL 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Tony Rivetti/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
THE ROOKIE – “Homefront” – When one of their colleagues is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the release of three felons whose cases he worked on and the team being asked to check in on them now that they are free. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan finds out he is being sued by a man who claims he used excessive force which led to an injury on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, APRIL 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Tony Rivetti/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)CALEB CASTILLE, AFTON WILLIAMSON
THE ROOKIE – “Homefront” – When one of their colleagues is arrested by Internal Affairs for lying on the witness stand, it leads to the release of three felons whose cases he worked on and the team being asked to check in on them now that they are free. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan finds out he is being sued by a man who claims he used excessive force which led to an injury on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, APRIL 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Tony Rivetti/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON, CALEB CASTILLE
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE – WALT DISNEY TELEVISION – TCA Winter Press Tour. (Image Group LA via Getty Images)ALEXI HAWLEY (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER), AFTON WILLIAMSON, ERIC WINTER, ALYSSA DIAZ, TITUS MAKIN, RICHARD T. JONES
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Actress Afton Williamson attends the Disney and ABC Television 2019 TCA Winter press tour at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on February 05, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
2019 TCA WINTER PRESS TOUR – Talent, executives and showrunners from Walt Disney Television via Getty Images and Freeform series arrived at the 2019 TCA Winter Press Tour carpet, at The Langham Huntington, in Pasadena, California. (Image Group LA via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
THE ROOKIE – “Manhunt” – When a prison bus crashes, all units must respond as some inmates face severe injuries while others seek an opportunity to flee. In the wake of the accident, Officer Nolan tries to impress an FBI hostage negotiator while tracking down an escaped convict on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, MARCH 5 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Eric McCandless via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
THE ROOKIE – “Manhunt” – When a prison bus crashes, all units must respond as some inmates face severe injuries while others seek an opportunity to flee. In the wake of the accident, Officer Nolan tries to impress an FBI hostage negotiator while tracking down an escaped convict on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, MARCH 5 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Eric McCandless via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
THE ROOKIE – “Plain Clothes Day” – The rookies are really put to the test when their training officers accompany them out of uniform for Plain Clothes Day, which forces them to make all the decisions while on patrol. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan tries to prove he has been progressing faster than the other rookies to justify his desire of becoming a detective within five years on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, FEB. 26 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Rick Rowell via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON, NATHAN FILLION
THE ROOKIE – “Redwood” – An unscheduled visit by the vice president of the United States puts the station on high alert. The secret service tasks Officer Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Officer Bishop (Afton Williamson) with checking out a possible threat to the vice president while the rest of the team try to keep the streets clear and safe for his visit on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, JAN. 22 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Eric McCandless via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON, NATHAN FILLION
THE ROOKIE – “The Ride Along” – Sergeant Grey informs Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop that they are going to have a movie director as a ride-along during their patrol after a fun afternoon granting the wish of a Make-A-Wish kid as honorary police officer Kaydence Patton. Meanwhile, Officer Bradford is tested once again after he learns that his wife, Isabel, has been arrested for drug possession, on “The Rookie,” TUESDAY, DEC. 4 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Richard Cartwright/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
THE ROOKIE – Walt Disney Television via Getty Images’s “The Rookie” stars Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop. (Ed Herrera/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
THE ROOKIE – Walt Disney Television via Getty Images’s “The Rookie” stars Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop. (Ed Herrera/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – SEPTEMBER 08:Afton Williamson from ‘The Rookie’ attends The Paley Center of Media’s 2018 PaleyFest Fall TV Previews – ABC at The Paley Center for Media on September 8, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Araya Diaz/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – SEPTEMBER 08:Afton Williamson from “The Rookie” attends The Paley Center of Media’s 2018 PaleyFest Fall TV Previews – ABC at The Paley Center for Media on September 8, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
THE ROOKIE – “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” – After Nolan and Talia lose control of a crime scene, they begin to debate whether people are fundamentally good or bad and what that means for a police officer. Meanwhile, Lucy is concerned Tim is enabling his wife’s destructive behavior and not taking care of himself, on an all-new episode of “The Rookie,” TUESDAY, OCT. 30 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Eric McCandless via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – AUGUST 07:Afton Williamson and Nathan Fillion of ABC’s ‘The Rookie’ pose for a portrait during the 2018 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Benjo Arwas/Getty Images)
TCA SUMMER PRESS TOUR 2018 – Talent, executives and showrunners from Walt Disney Television via Getty Images arrived to The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills for the Disney | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television All-Star Cocktail Reception and Interview Opportunity. (Image Group LA via Getty Images)AFTON WILLIAMSON
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – AUGUST 07:Afton Williamson arrives at the Disney ABC Television Hosts TCA Summer Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)Up Next
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“Throughout the filming of the pilot, I experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers,” Williamson wrote. “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.”
ABC and eOne, which co-produce “The Rookie,” both released statements Sunday night saying that they had “initiated an independent investigation” into the matter.
On Monday morning, ABC president Karey Burke addressed the matter at the network’s Television Critics Association summer press tour, saying that she and ABC are “waiting for the results of that investigation” before deciding on a course of action.
“At that time, those answers and those conclusions will help guide us about how to handle those situations in the future, if in fact there has been some sort of communication breakdown. I don’t have any more answers than that right now,” Burke said.
9 PHOTOSDemetrius GrosseSee GalleryDemetrius Grosse
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 06: Demetrius Grosse poses backstage during the 2019 ESSENCE Festival Presented By Coca-Cola at Louisiana Superdome on July 06, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
THE ROOKIE – “The Checklist” – Sergeant Gray informs the rookies that they must track down a specific set of crimes in a 48-hour period in order to qualify for their final exam. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop answer a silent alarm call at will.i.am’s house on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, APRIL 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Eric McCandless/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)DEMETRIUS GROSSE
THE ROOKIE – “The Checklist” – Sergeant Gray informs the rookies that they must track down a specific set of crimes in a 48-hour period in order to qualify for their final exam. Meanwhile, Officer Nolan and Officer Bishop answer a silent alarm call at will.i.am’s house on “The Rookie,” airing TUESDAY, APRIL 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on The Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network. (Eric McCandless/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)BILL NORCROSS, DEMETRIUS GROSSE, NATHAN FILLION
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 16:Actor Demetrius Grosse attends “Love Jacked” Atlanta VIP screening at Regal Atlantic Station on October 16, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 09:Demetrius Grosse attends the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival premiere of ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 9, 2018 in Toronto, Canada.(Photo by Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic)
THE BRAVE — “Close to Home, Part 1” Episode 112 — Pictured: (l-r) Demetrius Grosse as CPO Ezekiel “Preach” Carter, Anne Heche as Patricia Campbell — (Photo by: Lewis Jacobs/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NBCUNIVERSAL EVENTS — NBCUniversal Portrait Studio, August 2017 — Pictured: Demetrius Grosse, “The Brave” — (Photo by: Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NBCUNIVERSAL EVENTS — NBCUniversal Portrait Studio, August 2017 — Pictured: Demetrius Grosse, Natacha Karam, Anne Heche, Mike Vogel, Hadi Tabbal, Noah Mills, “The Brave” — (Photo by: Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – AUGUST 03:Demetrius Grosse at the NBCUniversal Summer TCA Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 3, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)Up Next
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