Stranger Things Star Quits Agency After Sexual Assault Allegations Against Agent

Stranger Things/Netflix

Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard has quit talent agency APA after sexual assault allegations were made against his former agent Tyler Grasham.

14-year-old Finn – who plays Mike Wheeler in the sci-fi fantasy show – is believed to have come to this decision because of the allegations.

PA Images

Two men allege they were assaulted by Grasham.

The first man to come forward was former child actor Blaise Godbe Lipman, who appeared in films such as The Dark Place and Nobody Walks.

In a Facebook post following the #metoo viral thread, Blaise claimed Grasham assaulted him while he was underage:

Tyler Grasham, under the pretence of a business meeting regarding potential agency representation at APA Agency, fed me alcohol while I was underage and sexually assaulted me.

APA Agency has kept this man employed, working with kid actors. I find it incredibly difficult to believe they do not know of his predatory behaviour, using his position within the company to prey on naive kids.

Although his power in this biz is no where near Weinstein level, the collective power of agents is massive. I hope the light that’s shed by the newly empowered victims who are coming forward, makes predators think twice.

Change is slow but I hope this is a big jump start.

The second man to come forward was 27-year-old film and TV editor Lucas Ozarowski, who has reportedly decided to come forward after seeing Blaise’s Facebook post.

Speaking with Deadline, Lucas described how he met with Grasham at his house back in January 2016, before going out for dinner at Napoleon and Josephine restaurant on Melrose:

He got me a little tipsy and took me to the Sandbox bar next door.

There were more and more drinks. At midnight or 1 AM I told him I wanted to go home, but I’d left my phone at his house to charge. So we went back there and I called for an Uber.

But he said, ‘Let’s watch The Martian while you’re waiting for Uber.’ I said OK and we sat down on the couch.

I had my phone in my crotch, and all of a sudden he reached over and grabbed me under my pants.

It really took me off guard. I pulled his hands out and said, ‘You know I’m not gay. I don’t want this Hollywood BS.’

Hollywood-based agency APA are now conducting an internal investigation into the matter.

APA have made the following statement to Deadline about the allegations:

APA takes these allegations extremely seriously and is investigating this matter.

According to Deadline, a source claims these allegations are ‘the reason’ Finn decided to quit the agency.

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The teenage actor has now been praised by fans for his decision to leave the agency, with one person tweeting, ‘role models come in all ages’.

Another person commented, ‘Good on the dude for setting an example for everyone else. Good move and makes a bold statement’.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.