Melissa Gilbert is standing by husband Timothy Busfield after he surrendered to cops following allegations of child sexual abuse.
“During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” Gilbert’s rep told Us Weekly in a statement on Tuesday, January 13. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
Gilbert’s rep added that the actress will not be making statements at this time at the request of Busfield’s lawyers.
Us confirmed on Tuesday that Busfield, 68, surrendered to police in New Mexico after a child actor alleged that the director had touched him inappropriately. Busfield is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys,” Busfield said in a video obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, denying the allegations. “I’m going to fight it. I’m going to fight it with a great team, and I’m going to be exonerated. I know I am because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
Busfield’s attorney, Larry Stein, confirmed to Us that his client voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country “to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations.”
“He is innocent and is determined to clear his name,” Stein added in a statement to Us.
A warrant for Busfield’s arrest, obtained by Us, was issued by authorities in New Mexico on Friday, January 9, after a child actor alleged that the director had touched him inappropriately. Busfield is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
According to the Albuquerque Police Department affidavit, seen by Us, the alleged incidents occurred on the set of the series The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024. Busfield served as an executive producer and director on the Fox series, which aired from 2022 to 2025, while his accuser was a child actor on the show alongside his twin brother.
The child claimed that Busfield touched his “private areas” three or four times when he was 7 years old, according to the complaint. When the child was 8, Busfield allegedly touched him inappropriately five or six times.
The boy said he was “very afraid of Tim and was relieved when he was off set.” Additionally, he stated that he “was afraid to tell anyone because Tim was the director, and he feared Tim would get mad at him.”
The child’s mother reported to Child Protective Services that the alleged abuse occurred between late 2022 and the second half of 2024. The child was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety following the incidents, according to the documents.
The complaint also revealed that Busfield was interviewed by police via phone regarding the alleged abuse in November 2025. Officer Marvin Brown asked Busfield whether he had any “physical contact” with the children, such as picking them up or tickling them.
“Timothy said it was highly likely that he would have,” the documents stated, noting that Busfield referred to the Cleaning Lady set as a “playful environment.” He added that there was “never a weird moment about it” and that any contact was “in front of the parents.”
Busfield also said there was “no protocol” for touching children on set.
“I mean, I’m always around people, right? It would be, you know, in front of the parents. There would never be a weird moment about it,” he said. “I don’t really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. I’d pick him up and he’d be giggling and that would sort of get him ready to act.”
Elsewhere in the interview with police, Busfield admitted that he and Gilbert “did buy the two boys Christmas gifts and were together [at] several social functions.”
Brown concluded that Busfield allegedly chose to “invite the family to off-set gatherings, with his wife buying Christmas gifts to foster closeness.” He theorized that this was a “classic grooming to erode boundaries, isolate the victim and silence suspicions by blending abuse into normalcy.”
Gilbert, who married Busfield in 2013, shared a cryptic Instagram post slamming people who “play the victim and blame others” days before the arrest warrant was issued.
“You seem to have a mistaken discomfort for injustice,” the post read. In a comment, the Little House on the Prairie alum added, “It’s about not taking accountability for your own situation. It’s about being a big whiny baby. I saw this quote and it struck me. I have a particularly hard time with people who play the victim. Own your s***. Step up. It’s all pretty general. Has nothing to do with politics but everything to do with privilege, attitude and weakness.”
Gilbert has since deleted her social media accounts.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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