Timothy Busfield i Melissa Gilbert allegedly admitted to having a friendly relationship with the twins accusing the director of child abuse.
How Us Weekly previously reported, the children allege Busfield inappropriately touched them multiple times, including picking them up and tickling them, while working on the set of The cleaning woman. The warrant further alleged that the situation became so intense that one of the boys was reportedly “very afraid” of Busfield and had been afraid to tell anyone because he was worried the older man would “get mad at him.”
In the same order, the West Wing the 68-year-old actor told the agent Marvin Brown that he and his wife, Gilbert, “bought both boys Christmas presents and were together (at) various social functions.”
Officer Brown concluded that Busfield allegedly chose to “invite the family to compensatory gatherings, with his wife buying Christmas presents to encourage closeness.” He further theorized that the move was an example of “classic preparation to erode boundaries, isolate the victim and silence suspicion by conflating abuse with normality”.
However, Busfield insisted to Brown that he did not remember picking up any of the boys or “overtly tickling” them. When asked if he remembered having physical contact with the children, the 68-year-old admitted it was “very likely that he did”, and later confessed. there was “no protocol” for how adults were allowed to physically interact with children on set, according to the order.
Details of the arrest warrant come later we reported that Gilbert, 61, shared a cryptic comment on social media criticizing unnamed people who were allegedly “playing the victim.”
Timothy Busfield
Steven Ferdman/Getty ImagesMonday, January 5, the first Little house on the prairie star shared a quote on her Instagram page that read, “You seem to have a misplaced discomfort with injustice.”
In the comments section, he explained that he was referring to those “playing the victim and blaming others.”
“It’s about not taking responsibility for your own situation,” Gilbert added. “It’s about being a big whiny baby. I saw that quote and it hit me. I have a particularly hard time with people who play the victim. You’ve got your shit. Step up. It’s all pretty general. It’s got nothing to do with politics, it’s got to do with privilege and attitude and weakness.”
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield have been married since 2013 after having a long career in Hollywood. “Our business in Los Angeles is very difficult because it’s everywhere in this city (and) everyone is involved in it in some way,” said Gilbert, best known for playing Laura Ingalls on The Little House on the Prairie (…)
Gilbert also recently opened up about the potential dangers of child abuse in the entertainment industry as he reflected on having to kiss a 23-year-old co-star when he was just 15.
“Through today’s lens, this is shocking. I have no more words to say: ‘IT WAS A BOY.’ I WAS FIFTEEN,” she said in a November Instagram update. “Thank God my mom and Michael (Landon) and so many others were there to make sure I was safe. Can you imagine if I hadn’t had them all? I’m very lucky (sort of). A lot of other young women aren’t.”
we Busfield representatives have been contacted for comment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Helpline for children at 1-800-422-4453.