Content warning: This article contains mentions of grooming and abusive relationships
Tiktok personality Hunter Ecimovic has claimed that he “groomed” 17-year-old Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown in an Instagram live video last Monday. The day after, Bobby Brown’s team responded to the claims made by Ecimovic calling them “false” and “offensive.”
Ecimovic, who goes by the name “Hunter Echo” on TikTok, went on Instagram live to detail the fact that he and Brown had a “sexual” relationship when she was 16 and he was 20. The age of consent in California, where the alleged relationship took place, is 18. Ecimovic also claimed that he “groomed” Brown in order to get her to do whatever he wanted. For audiences unaware, grooming is the act of manipulating behavior to build false trust with a minor in order to exploit them, in Ecimovic’s case and in many cases, sexually or physically.
“Mr. Ecimovic’s remarks on social media are not only dishonest, but also are irresponsible, offensive and hateful,” Brown’s representatives said in a statement on Tuesday. “Instead of engaging in a public discourse with him through the press or on social media, we are taking action to ensure that he stops this behavior once and for all.”
In a later TikTok video, Ecimovic addressed his exploitative claims on Tuesday. The 21-year-old blames the whole blowout on the fact that he became increasingly intoxicated over the course of the Instagram live, claiming he wanted to “antagonize” commenters who held him accountable for his rhetoric.
“I’m not trying to justify it at all,” Ecimovic said on TikTok. “I just want you guys to know that I’m not OK with how I went about stuff.”
While he did apologize for his behavior, he did not take back any of the claims he made about the grooming or alleged sexual relationship.
Ecimovic, in the video, claimed that Brown’s parents knew of the relationship and that he had been living with Brown for eight months. “How the f–k is there a lawsuit? Her mom and dad knew about everything.” Ecimovic said.
