Afton Williamson Left ‘The Rookie’ After Racial Bullying and Sexual Harassment Claims Went Unaddressed
It looks like John Nolan is going to need a new LAPD training officer on The Rookie Season 2.
A TV Line exclusive previously reported that Afton Williamson won’t be returning to The Rookie as Talia Bishop for the upcoming season suggesting that the parting of ways was amicable.
AFTON WILLIAMSON
Turns out it was not. In her first social media post since May, Williamson discusses sexual harassment and racial bullying she experienced on set that went largely ignored including racial discrimination and racially charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and executive producers during the filming of the pilot.
Throughout the season she also experienced sexual harrassment from a recurring guest star and racist commentary and bullying from the hair department which escalated to sexual assault at The Rookie Season 1 wrap party.
The employee in question was fired after the wrap party. However, other incidents reported by Williamson did not receive the same attention. Human resources procedure wasn’t followed and no investigation commenced.
“The only time I was asked to participate in an investigation was after a meeting I called in June following our Season 2 announcement. This meeting included the Showrunner and two other producers as well as my agent and SAG-AFTRA Union Rep. It was clear to all present in the meeting that the Showrunner had not shared my reports with the any of the producers,” Williamson said in her Instagram post.
AFTON WILLIAMSON
“After my initial report of sexual harassment, I was assured that the actor would be fired. I was also asked to film with him the very next day as a courtesy to the script, even though we had not begun filming the episode yet. This actor reappeared on our call sheet at the end of the season, I was even written in scenes with him. I asked the Showrunner about this and he admitted to me that the actor had not been fired nor had he gotten HR involved,” she continued.
Williamson was asked to return for The Rookie Season 2 and was assured by producers that “everything was handled.” But the investigation hadn’t begun and the season had started filming so she decided to walk away.
“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 concludes in her post.
AFTON WILLIAMSON
Williamson was a major character on The Rookie Season 1. Her character, Talia Bishop begrudgingly takes John Nolan (Nathan Fillion), a fortysomething rookie under her wing. Nolan’s underperformance could hinder Bishop’s career. The training officer/rookie relationship was a central part of the series, and fans took to Talia Bishop quite well.
The Rookie announced updated at their San-Diego Comic-Con panel, a TV Line exclusive reported the addition of Ali Larter as an ER doctor with ties to John Nolan’s past. Filling the void of the training officer however, will be Lost alum Harold Perrineau.
—
What are your thoughts on this latest news? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The Rookie will return September 29th at 10/9c on ABC
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.