Melissa Gilbert has made her first public comments after her husband, Timothy Busfield, was arrested on child sex abuse charges earlier this month.
The “Little House on the Prairie” star deactivated her personal social media page after New Mexico officials issued an arrest warrant for Busfield in connection with a criminal complaint that alleged he touched a child inappropriately while working on the set of “The Cleaning Lady.” Busfield has denied the allegations.
But on Monday, Gilbert went public again, this time on the Instagram page for her lifestyle brand Modern Prairie.
The actor and former SAG-AFTRA president posted her message alongside a photo of her looking wistful while holding a coffee mug.
“I’m sending you all my love and gratitude during this extraordinarily difficult time. Not only for Tim, me and our family, but in the collective heaviness so many of us seem to be carrying right now,” she said. “Add an unexpected storm to the mix, and it can all feel like a bit too much.”
Gilbert then said the season has reminded her “very clearly” how “important it is to slow down, prioritize what truly matters, and allow ourselves moments of rest.”
She added: “Stepping back from the noise, the news, and even our daily responsibilities from time to time gives us space to recharge, reflect, and find our center again.”
Gilbert then thanked her followers for “the love, patience, and support you continue to show Tim and me,” and “for helping me to feel safer, more grounded, and deeply held by this extraordinary community of women here at Modern Prairie.”
Gilbert then said she’ll “be easing back into things thoughtfully and with care — moving forward one step at a time. More to come, and so much gratitude always.”
Although some might question the optics of basically turning a message to support a spouse accused of a crime into a subtle commercial for a lifestyle brand, the vast majority of comments on the post supported Gilbert.
Busfield, who is currently out of jail on his own recognizance, is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
According to the criminal complaint filed with the Albuquerque Police Department, Busfield’s accuser said he was 7 years old when the actor allegedly touched him three or four times in private areas over his clothing.
The boy also alleged that Busfield touched him five or six times on another occasion a year later.
Authorities in Sacramento, California, said that, after Busfield turned himself in earlier this month, a man accused the 68-year-old of sexually abusing the man’s daughter “several years ago.”
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