Afton Williamson Identifies ‘The Rookie’ Guest Star Who Sexually Harassed Her

Afton Williamson has released new details regarding her experience and decision to leave the ABC procedural The Rookie. 

In a Sunday morning Instagram post, Williamson previously posted details sexual harassment and racial bullying that she experienced during the filming of the first season. In her post, she discussed how human resources protocol wasn’t followed and that when she was asked to come back for Season 2, it was clear that no investigation had begun. 

Now, in another Instagram post on Monday, Williamson has named her bully and her harasser.  She also thanked fans for their support. She says she was sexually harassed by co-star Demetrius Grosse and racially bullied and sexually assaulted by hair department head Sally Nicole Ciganovich. 

” I am so beyond overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, kind words, scriptures, strength filled quotes and devout support that has come my way. One Instagram post is just like those 2 fish and 5 loaves of Bread. The rippling effect it has had in just a few hours shows how much this world is aching with victims of racism, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse all of it,” said Williamson.  

“I am no stranger to all of the above even before this experience. But it is through this experience and my platform that God pushed me to use the power within me,” she continued. 

View this post on Instagram

To my Fans, my Friends, my Supporters: I want to Thank EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. I am so beyond overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, kind words, scriptures, strength filled quotes and devout support that has come my way. One Instagram post is just like those 2 fish and 5 loaves of Bread. The rippling effect it has had in just a few hours shows how much this world is aching with victims of racism, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse all of it. I am no stranger to all of the above even before this experience. But it is through this experience and my platform that God pushed me to use the power within me. It just takes a VOICE. I never imagined so many of us have experienced these horrible circumstances and that can NO LONGER GO UNHEARD. We have a voice. ALL OF US. It is our DUTY to use it. I used to fear the word Victim. I scoffed at it because all I was told when these injustices happened to me, was to Survive. Survivor I am. Victim I am also. A victim of injustice. A victim of assault. A victim of abuse and harassment. If you have experienced any of the above, you are too and I for one stand with you and I’m no longer afraid to be vocal about it. We Can Stand Together. Let’s Change This Sickness. That Change starts with US. 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. Let’s BE the CHANGE we WANT to SEE❤️👊🏾🙏🏾

A post shared by Afton Williamson (@therealaftonw) on Aug 5, 2019 at 5:06pm PDT

Meanwhile, both the network and the studio have claimed that they are investigating the incidents.

According to TV Line, at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Monday, ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke was asked to answer for the handling of Williamson’s claims. Burke admitted that she has no answer, yet. 

“I don’t have a lot of answers. I wish I had more. learned alongside my colleagues at the end of June that there were allegations and that an investigation had been launched by eOne,” Burke said when asked when the allegations first came to light. 

The investigation that both ABC and eOne mention is being led by a third party that Burke hopes will yield independent and trustworthy results. 

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What do you think of this latest development? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 

The Rookie is scheduled to return Sunday, September 29th at 10/9c on ABC.

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Lauren Busser

Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.