She previously announced that she wouldn't return for season 2 of the drama, claiming she 'experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers.'
- Aug 6, 2019
AceShowbiz - Afton Williamson has share further details of her "sexual harassment" and "racial discrimination" allegations, which drove her to exit ABC's cop drama "The Rookie". In her Monday evening, August 5 Instagram post, the actress identified two people who allegedly sexually harassed her and discriminated her while she was starring on the series.
Williamson opened her lengthy post by thanking her fans, friends and supporters, adding, "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." She went on saying, "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 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," she wrote. "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."
Later in the post, Williamson revealed that "fellow actor Demetrius Grosse" was the one who "sexually harassed" her during the season of "The Rookie", which debuted on October 16, 2018. "I was Racially Bullied and Discriminated against and Sexually Assaulted by Hair Department Head Sally Nicole Ciganovich," she added.
Gross' representatives have yet to respond to request for comment. Representatives of Ciganovich also haven't commented on the matter.
Williamson announced on the August 4 post that she wouldn't be returning for the second season of the Nathan Fillion-starring drama. She claimed that she "experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers." She added, "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."
Williamson claimed she reported the harassment to an executive producer but it "remained undocumented and was not reported to HR (Human Resources) as promised."
