Former “The Rookie” actress Afton Williamson has disclosed the name of the recurring actor she said sexually harassed her, as well as the name of the show’s hairdresser she said sexually assaulted and bullied her in a racist manner.
Williamson, who announced Sunday on Instagram that she was quitting the ABC series after its first season, said in a follow-up Instagram post Monday that “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 offered no details about the sexual assault accusation or whether she had reported the incident to the police; the LAPD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Representatives for Grosse and Ciganovich did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap. Representatives for “The Rookie” production company eOne and ABC also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new details, though eOne said Monday it had launched an independent investigation into Williamson’s accusations.
In her Monday post, Williamson also thanked fans for their support, especially addressing followers who might have experienced abuse and harassment themselves: “I for one stand with you and I’m no longer afraid to be vocal about it.”
In her post on Sunday announcing she would not return for the second season of the Nathan Fillion-led drama, Williamson accused the show’s hair department of racial discrimination and inappropriate comments. She also accused showrunner Alexi Hawley of refusing to pass on her complaints to human resources and said a recurring guest star on the show had sexually harassed her.
Also on Monday during the Television Critics Association press tour, ABC Entertainment chief Karey Burke said the network was waiting for the outside investigation to run its course before taking any action. “I learned alongside my colleagues at the end of June that there were allegations and that an investigation had been launched by eOne,” Burke said. “I’m waiting for the results of that investigation, just as you are, to get more answers.”