Actress Melissa Gilbert has released a statement through her representative voicing support for her embattled husband.
Her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, was recently accused of inappropriately touching two underage boys on the set of a TV show, “The Cleaning Lady,” that he directed in 2022.
“One of the boys told an investigator last fall that Busfield touched his ‘private areas’ when he was seven years old, and again when he was eight, while they were on set,” according to Variety magazine.
Another boy alleged that Busfield had kissed him on the face and “would tickle and caress the heads of boys.”
Busfield was taken into custody on Tuesday after he turned himself.
Timothy Busfield is currently in custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. He has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (child under 13) and one count of Child Abuse.
The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office intends to… pic.twitter.com/gL4okjb6cP— Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman (@BerncoDa) January 13, 2026
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Gilbert’s representative noted that she doesn’t want to publicly address the controversy at this time other than to voice support for her husband.
“Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time,” the representative said. “Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online – including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ – should not be treated as coming from her. She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds.”
“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. We ask that their privacy be respected,” the rep added.
Meanwhile, Busfield’s attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, released a statement to the Daily Mail proclaiming his client’s innocence.
“This morning, Tim voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations,” Stein said. “He is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”
Stein also alleged that one of his client’s supposed victims was told by his mother to concoct fake allegations out of revenge.
“[A]fter her son was terminated from the show, the boy’s mother vowed to ‘get her revenge against Timothy Busfield,'” the lawyer noted. “What followed appears to be a calculated effort to construct a case, driven by animus not fact, despite prior investigations finding no evidence of wrongdoing.”
Stein also cited a separate statement from Christina McGovern, an independent outside investigator who was retained to render her judgment on the allegations against Busfield.
“I conducted an independent and thorough investigation of all allegations known to the Studio at the time,” the statement reads. “Warner Bros. gave me full discretion as to my investigation.”
“Based on what was alleged, and all evidence gathered, including multiple witness statements, I found no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone with the twins on set,” the statement concludes.
In a video statement obtained by TMZ, Busfield himself denied the legitimacy of the allegations against him:
“I did Not do ANYTHING to Those Little Boys…”… No This is Not Ai… pic.twitter.com/jdHhsdTnQW
— (@Emilio2763) January 13, 2026
“They’re all lies, and I did not do anything,” he said. “I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I know I’m going to be exonerated. I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
The warrant for Busfield’s arrest said that an investigation into his activities was launched in November of 2024 after staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital reported to police that children were being groomed on set.
“Busfield allegedly told the children, ‘to call him Uncle Tim,’ and the criminal complaint said he ‘would tickle them on the stomach and legs, despite them not liking the tickling,'” according to the Daily Mail.
Later in October of last year, the parents of one of the children contacted Child Protective Services, alleging that Busfield had sexually abused their son. The boy reportedly told a therapist that the actor had grabbed his “genitalia” and “bottom” while on set.
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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