Angela Bassett Shows Support For Afton Williamson

Angela Bassett Shows Support To Afton Williamson For Speaking Out About Alleged Sexual Harassment On Set

Photo by Franziska Krug/Getty Images for Max Mara

By Sydney Scott · August 7, 2019December 6, 2020

Actress Afton Williamson has Angela Bassett’s full support following Williamson’s decision to come forward with allegations that she was harassed and bullied by a crew member and guest star on The Rookie.

Williamson announced her decision to leave the series earlier this week, writing, “Throughout the filming of the pilot, I experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers. 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.”

Bassett showed support for Williamson after the announcement, chiming in with a short but very clear message in the comment section of Williamson’s Instagram post.

View this post on Instagram

I will not be returning for Season 2 of The Rookie. I owe it to you my amazing fans to share the Truth. Throughout the filming of the pilot, I experienced Racial Discrimination/Racially Charged inappropriate comments from the hair department and bullying from Executive Producers. During the Season, it continued along with Sexual Harassment from a recurring guest star,Demetrius Grosse,and the racist commentary & bullying from the Hair Dept.Head, Sally Ciganovich escalated into Sexual Assault at our Wrap party.The Sexual Harassment though reported directly to the Showrunner/EP remained undocumented and was not reported to HR as promised.Ciganovich was fired ONLY after the sexual assault and NOT for an entire year of outward racism/racially charged language and bullying behavior in and out of the Hair and Makeup trailer. HR protocol was never adhered to following the above reports given by me to my Showrunner/EP and an investigation was never issued for any of my claims. 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. After my initial report of sexual harassment, I was assured that Grosse 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. Grosse 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 Grosse had not been fired nor had he gotten HR involved. I was asked to return this season, and promised that “everything was handled.” The investigation hadn’t even begun and Season 2 had already started filming. I turned it down and I walked. 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” ❤️🙏🏽

A post shared by Afton Williamson (@therealaftonw) on Aug 4, 2019 at 1:12am PDT

“I’m SO proud of you and stand COMPLETELY in support of you,” Bassett wrote. “Speak your truth and speak it LOUD!”

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Williamson was a regular on the series as officer Talia Bishop. Earlier this week, she named guest star Demetrius Grosse and hair department head Sally Nicole Ciganovich as two of the people who had harassed and assaulted her.

ABC entertainment president Karey Burke told reporters that an investigation is underway, “I wish I had more. We are waiting for answers… As soon as we learn more, we will make a determination based on what’s found.”