David Harbour drops out of Stranger Things vent after recent California Incidents

He’s doing some strange things. David Harbour was accused of stealing a fan’s hat during a bizarre incident at an Encinitas, California bar over the weekend. The 50-year-old actor, who plays fan-favourite police chief Jim Hopper on the hit Netflix series, had been scheduled to appear at Stranger Things: The Final Season Celebration, an event hosted by the Paley Centre in New York City on Thursday, December 18.

The event is set to include a screening and an on-stage conversation with members of the cast. However, after a recent incident drew attention online, a Paley Centre spokesperson confirmed that Harbour will no longer be attending. According to the spokesperson, the actor will “not be present due to a scheduling conflict.”

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His name has since been removed from the list of expected red carpet attendees, and he is also absent from the lineup of actors participating in the screening and discussion listed on the venue’s website. Harbour’s withdrawal comes shortly after an incident in Encinitas, California, TMZ reported.

According to the outlet, the actor was at a local gastropub when he allegedly took another patron’s hat as he was leaving. The situation reportedly escalated when the man followed Harbour outside and retrieved the hat, confronting him and asking, “What the f— did I do to you?” No further details were released, and it remains unclear whether the incident led to any formal complaints or involvement by authorities.

Another person on Reddit said they had an unusual encounter with Harbour over the weekend in Vista, California, which is in San Diego County. The user claimed that a man who looked extremely similar to Harbour approached him at a gas station and asked for a ride to a monastery in Escondido, California. After he refused the request, the man reportedly became aggressive and started yelling.

The user said he did not realise he may have been interacting with Harbour until he later saw a news article reporting that Harbour was spotted at a Barnes and Noble in Escondido, California, on Saturday, December 13.

The timing of the report and Harbour’s absence from the Paley Centre event has fueled speculation, though organisers have not linked the two. The Paley Centre has offered no additional comment beyond citing the scheduling conflict.

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The event will also proceed without Millie Bobby Brown, another key member of the Stranger Things cast. Brown is reportedly unable to attend due to a recent injury. Her absence had been announced separately and does not appear to be connected to Harbour’s situation.

Despite the missing cast members, several of the show’s stars are still expected to attend. Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Noah Schnapp, and Caleb McLaughlin, who make up the core of the show’s younger ensemble, are all slated to appear. Maya Hawke is also confirmed to attend the celebration.

Stranger Things: The Final Season Celebration is one of the first major public events tied to the show’s concluding season, which has been highly anticipated by fans. While Harbour’s absence will likely be noticed, the event is still expected to draw significant attention as the long-running series prepares to close its chapter.

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