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Melissa Gilbert’s lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie, issued a statement amid her husband, Timothy Busfield’s child sex abuse case.
Shared via Instagram on Tuesday, January 13, Modern Prairie posted a message that restricted comments, unlike the brand’s regular social media shares.
“Modern Prairie is aware of recent media reports regarding serious allegations involving a family member of our brand muse, Melissa Gilbert. These allegations do not involve Modern Prairie, our operations, nor our community,” the post read. “Modern Prairie unequivocally condemns abuse in all forms and remains committed to values of safety, integrity, and respect. While these matters are personal and do not directly involve Melissa or the brand, we are respecting the privacy of the family as they navigate a difficult and personal situation.”
The statement concluded, “Our focus remains on supporting our community and continuing our work with care, responsibility, and intention.”
The brand’s LinkedIn profile states that Modern Prairie employs somewhere between 11 to 50 employees after it was founded in 2022 by Gilbert, 61, and Nicole Hasse.
The post was shared roughly one hour after prosecutors in the case against Busfield, 68, announced via Facebook that they intend on filing a motion to keep the West Wing alum in custody after being charged with two counts, one of criminal sexual contact of a minor and another of child abuse, earlier that day.
Modern Prairie’s Instagram post Courtesy of Modern Prairie/Instagram
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman wrote via Facebook that if the motion is approved, “a judge will then determine whether Busfield remains detained or is released pending trial.”
Modern Prairie’s statement also followed Gilbert, 61, sharing a statement of her own with Us Weekly via her rep on Tuesday. It detailed that the Little House on the Prairie star remained focused “on supporting and caring for their very large family as they navigate this moment,” before reiterating that Gilbert is supporting the actor. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,” the statement concluded.
Us confirmed on Tuesday that Busfield had surrendered to New Mexico authorities after a child actor accused the actor and director of touching him inappropriately while working on Fox’s The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024. Busfield served as director and an executive producer on the series, which aired from 2022 to 2025.
Busfield’s attorney, Stanton “Larry” Stein, told Us that his client voluntarily appeared before authorities “after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations. He is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”
Stein concluded that “the claims being made against Tim are completely false, and we will fight this to the end until the truth prevails.”
According to an Albuquerque Police Department affidavit, seen by Us, the accuser worked on The Cleaning Lady alongside his twin brother. The child claimed that Busfield touched his “private parts” three or four times when he was 7 years old. The complaint also alleged that Busfield touched the child again when he was 8 years old, and the latter occurrence allegedly took place five or six times.
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The documents detailed that the child “was afraid to tell anyone because Tim was the director, and he feared Tim would get mad at him,” however the child’s mother reported the alleged incidents to Child Protective Services at the time. The child was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, per the complaint.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text the Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
