At a Glance
- Melissa Gilbert canceled her Jan. 16 Modern Prairie Q&A one day after husband Timothy Busfield was charged with abusing twin 11-year-old boys.
- Busfield surrendered in New Mexico on Jan. 13 and faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
- The boys allegedly met Busfield on the set of FOX’s The Cleaning Lady, where he directed and told them to call him “Uncle Tim.”
- Why it matters: The cancellation and silence from Gilbert highlight the immediate fallout for the family and brand as legal proceedings begin.
Melissa Gilbert’s lifestyle brand Modern Prairie scrapped a planned virtual event after her husband Timothy Busfield was formally charged with child sex crimes stemming from alleged abuse on a television set.
Event Canceled Hours After Charges Filed
An email sent to subscribers on Wednesday, Jan. 14, announced the Friday, Jan. 16, “Ask Melissa Anything” session was off. “Due to an unexpected scheduling change, Melissa will not be available, and the event has been canceled,” the brand wrote, citing respect for Gilbert’s “need for privacy and space.”
The notice promised to share rescheduled details “as soon as we’re able” and thanked the community for “care, empathy, and support.”
Arrest Warrant Details Alleged Abuse Timeline
Albuquerque police issued a warrant Friday, Jan. 9, accusing Busfield of unlawful sexual conduct with twin boys beginning when they were 7. The actor surrendered Tuesday, Jan. 13, the same day Bernalillo District Attorney Sam Bregman filed charges.
Key allegations from the warrant:
- The boys met Busfield while working as child actors on The Cleaning Lady; he directed episodes from Jan. 2022 through June 2025.
- Parents told police Busfield encouraged the children to call him “Uncle Tim” and gave them Christmas gifts.
- A therapist diagnosed one boy with moderate PTSD and anxiety at age 10 after he reported “inappropriate touching” and nightmares about the director.
- Warner Bros. conducted an internal probe and documented a December 2024 claim that Busfield kissed a minor on the face in the hair-and-makeup trailer.
Busfield Denies Wrongdoing
In a video obtained by TMZ after turning himself in, Busfield declared, “I did not do anything wrong… They’re all lies.” He added he would “fight it with a great team” and expects to be exonerated.
When questioned by investigators, Busfield said it was “highly likely” he picked up or tickled boys to maintain a “playful environment,” but insisted any contact happened “in front of the parents” and never crossed protocol.
Gilbert Remains Silent
Gilbert’s representative, Ame Van Iden, told News Of Losangeles the actress “is not making public statements at this time” and is honoring Busfield’s legal team’s request for silence. The statement warned against “AI-generated deepfakes” purporting to show Gilbert breaking her silence and asked for privacy while the family navigates “this moment.”
Modern Prairie issued its own statement Tuesday acknowledging “serious allegations involving a family member” and affirming the claims do “not involve Modern Prairie, our operations, nor our community.” The brand condemned “abuse in all forms” and reiterated commitments to safety and integrity.
Investigation Spanned Multiple Agencies
The case began Nov. 1, 2024, after a University of New Mexico Hospital doctor alerted police. A production assistant told investigators one victim was frequently unsupervised on set, and the mother alleged the crew stopped distributing iPads for parental monitoring after Busfield was hired.
Officer Marvin Kirk Brown wrote that pedophiles “infiltrate families under a trusted role,” noting Busfield’s alleged pattern of gifting and off-set gatherings “fostered closeness” and constituted “classic grooming.”
Prior Allegations Surface
The warrant references earlier sexual-assault claims against Busfield dating back to 1994. Warner Bros. Television told News Of Losangeles it prioritizes cast and crew safety, especially for minors, and continues to cooperate with law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Melissa Gilbert’s brand canceled its next public engagement within 24 hours of Timothy Busfield facing formal child sex-abuse charges.
- Court documents allege repeated abuse of twin boy actors on the set Busfield directed, with internal studio reports flagging inappropriate contact.
- Both Gilbert and her brand have chosen silence for now, citing legal strategy and privacy needs.
