Melissa Gilbert Opened Up About Timothy Busfield’s 2 Prior Sexual Assault Allegations
Melissa Gilbert has staunchly supported Timothy Busfield since his sexual assault arrest in January. Busfield faces allegations of sexual contact with underage boys on the set of The Cleaning Lady. Gilbert said she does not believe the allegations against him. She also addressed former allegations made as recently as 2012. She said she was aware of the allegations when she married Busfield.
Melissa Gilbert said she was aware of Timothy Busfield’s sexual assault allegations
The current allegations against Busfield are not the first he has faced. In the 1990s, a 17-year-old extra from the set of Little Big League “sued in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming Busfield assaulted her, served her alcohol, groped her, attempted sex in a trailer” (via People). Busfield countersued, and they ultimately settled.
In 2012, a woman accused Busfield of battery at a movie theater. She did not file a lawsuit, and prosecutors declined to pursue the case “due to slim evidence.”
Gilbert married Busfield in 2013. She said she was well aware of the allegations when they tied the knot.
“I need to make something abundantly clear,” she said on Good Morning America. “These allegations have been out in the ether for a very long time.”
She said she discussed the allegations with Busfield and believes he told her the truth.
“When Tim and I got together, the internet existed. I didn’t go into my relationship blind. I’m neither naive nor am I complicit,” she said. “I talked to him about it. I asked him questions about it. I heard his side of the story — which nobody has ever heard — which is the truth. And when the time is right, and that is not now, Tim will tell the truth of all of these past allegations when he needs to.”
Melissa Gilbert has stood behind Timothy Busfield after his arrest
Gilbert has also sided with Busfield in the wake of the most recent allegations.
“I know this man in my bones,” she said. “No one knows him better than I do. I know literally everything about him.”
While she acknowledged that they have had their ups and downs as a couple, she believes he is always honest with her. As a result, she trusts him implicitly.
“He is nothing if not completely honest with me,” she said. “I trust him with my children’s lives, with my grandchildren’s lives, my nieces and nephews. He is an honorable, caring, generous human being.”
She said she believes he will be exonerated.
He has also denied the allegations against him
Ahead of his arrest, Busfield denied the allegations against him.
“I got the call Friday night, I had to get a lawyer,” he said, per TMZ. “Saturday I got in the car, drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque. I’m gonna confront these lies. They’re horrible.”
Like Gilbert, Busfield also believes this will end in exoneration.
“They’re all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I’m gonna fight it,” he said. “I’m gonna fight it with a great team, and I’m gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
