Melissa Gilbert Confirms She Stands by Husband Timothy Busfield Amid Serious Accusations
Melissa Gilbert is standing by her husband, Timothy Busfield, as he faces serious accusations involving child s** abuse.
According to Entertainment Weekly, a publicist for the Little House on the Prairie star released a statement explaining Gilbert’s position after Busfield turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico. The publicist, Ame Van Iden, made it clear that Gilbert is not speaking publicly right now.
“Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time,” Van Iden said in the statement shared with Entertainment Weekly. “Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online — including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ — should not be treated as coming from her.” The publicist added that Gilbert is following legal advice and staying quiet while the case moves forward.
The statement also stressed where Gilbert’s attention is right now. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,” the statement said, while also asking for privacy.
Busfield surrendered to the Albuquerque Police Department on Tuesday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Police say two child actors accused him of inappropriate behavior while working on the show The Cleaning Lady between late 2022 and early 2024. According to the arrest warrant, one of the children reported repeated inappropriate touching and has since been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety.
If convicted, Busfield could face several years in state prison.
TMZ obtained a video in which Busfield denied the accusations. “I’m going to confront these lies,” he said. “They’re horrible. They’re all lies. And I did not do anything to those little boys. I’m going to fight it.”
Police documents also note that an officer spoke with both Busfield and Gilbert by phone in November 2025. During that call, Busfield reportedly claimed the children’s parents were seeking revenge after the actors were not asked back for another season. He also said Warner Bros. carried out an independent investigation at the time.
The officer added that Busfield and Gilbert admitted they had social contact with the children and their family outside of work, including buying Christmas gifts and attending events together.
After news of the arrest warrant became public, Gilbert deactivated her social media accounts. She and Busfield have been married since 2013.
This is a troubling and emotional situation for everyone involved, especially given the seriousness of the accusations. It also highlights how complex and painful these cases can be for families on all sides. What do you think about Gilbert’s decision to stay silent and stand by her husband during the legal process? Share your thoughts in the comments.
