The Rookie is amongst the most loved shows out there. But despite this popularity, it was also surrounded by a major controversy. Actress Afton Williamson, who’s famous for playing the role of Officer Talia Bishop, made headlines when she accused ABC Network of covering up some major issues she was subjected to behind the scenes.
Despite reporting the incident, the production team failed to take any action, as a result of which she left the show after the very first season. Let’s dive deeper to understand what actually happened.
The main reason why actress Afton Williamson left The Rookie after Season 1
The Rookie has a very large fan following, all thanks to actor Nathan Fillion and the show’s amazing storyline. But not all actors were happy on set, and things got so out of hand that Afton Williamson even quit the show after Season 1. She publicly accused The Rookie’s production team of racial discrimination, bullying, and s**ual harassment.
But despite her constant attempts to bring the issue out in the open, nothing much was done. Though a third-party investigation was conducted by eOne (the production company behind the show), they found no evidence to support her claims. The actress straightaway rejected this conclusion and took to Instagram to voice her frustration on the matter.
She called the investigation “heartbreaking” and described it as a cover-up. She also added, “What saddens me the most is that the lengths that were taken to Deceive, Lie, and Cover Up the Truth.” Williamson further stated that she decided to speak out not for herself but for all the actors facing injustice in the industry.
She also revealed the names of the people who harassed her via USA Today, mentioning recurring guest star Demetrius Grosse and Sallie Ciganovich. While the network claimed to have taken the matter seriously, Afton Williamson was not convinced and suggested that it was done solely to conceal important details.
Playing a cop on The Rookie also brought unexpected challenges for actor Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion has decades of acting experience and has worked across various genres. But when he joined The Rookie, the show quickly gained wide acclaim and became a go-to for any police procedural drama fan. However, playing such a role requires him to be constantly shooting outdoors, which, for someone as famous as him, is not an easy task.
Sometimes he gets mistaken for an LAPD officer, and other times, fans interrupt his scenes. During an interview via Good Morning America, Fillion opened up about the struggles. While he added that he loves working on the show, fans shouting his name in the middle of takes can sometimes throw off his performance.
He said, “People will drive by and yell, ‘I love The Rookie!’” He then laughed and said, “It’s great, but also—take 27!” For the actor, fans are not the only challenge. His on-screen uniform is so convincing that people actually mistake him for an LAPD officer.
Some people just look at him and say, “Thank you, Officer,” leaving him confused about who they are talking to.
As a precautionary step, he and his co-stars take off their badges, belts, and jackets when they’re off camera to avoid any misunderstandings.
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