Actress Melissa Gilbert has issued a powerful public rebuttal against commentator Megyn Kelly's controversial remarks concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The dispute centres on Kelly's assertion that Epstein was not technically a paedophile.
A Controversial Defence
On her show on November 12, Megyn Kelly attempted to qualify Epstein's crimes, suggesting his sexual preferences were less perverse because his victims were adolescents. "He liked 15-year-old girls," Kelly stated, while acknowledging the disgust her comments might provoke. She clarified, "I'm definitely not trying to make an excuse for this. I'm just giving you facts, that he wasn't into, like, eight-year-olds."
Kelly further elaborated that Epstein preferred "very young teen types that could pass for even younger than they were, but would look legal to a passerby." This distinction, she implied, was a meaningful difference in the nature of his offences.
Gilbert's Personal and Public Rejection
Melissa Gilbert, now 61, responded directly to these comments in a poignant Instagram post on Saturday. The former Little House on the Prairie star, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder on the popular series from 1974 to 1983, expressed her profound discomfort.
Gilbert stated she was "actually nauseated" by Kelly's remarks, which had prompted a social media hashtag, #iwasfifteen, highlighting the youth of individuals at that age. "So, I debated posting this but, I feel compelled to share," Gilbert wrote, explaining she had searched for images of herself at fifteen.
She shared a picture of herself as an underage girl on a family holiday in Hawaii, juxtaposed with stills from the television show where her character was depicted in a romantic relationship with Almanzo Wilder, a man played by actor Dean Butler, who is eight years her senior.
"The girl on vacation in Hawaii with her family, is the same girl who was expected to 'fall in love with' and kiss a man on film who was several years older than she was," Gilbert reflected. "Through the lens of today, this is shocking. I have no words other than to say, 'I WAS A CHILD.' 'I WAS FIFTEEN.'"
Wider Reactions and Support
Gilbert did acknowledge the protective presence of her adoptive parents, Barbara Cowan and Paul Gilbert, and her late co-star Michael Landon, who she said ensured she "was safe" on set. However, she poignantly added, "Can you imagine if I hadn't had them all? I am so fortunate (Sort of). Many other young women aren't."
Her post was met with an outpouring of support from followers and fellow celebrities. Actor and singer Cheyenne Jackson commented, "I’m so glad you said this... You really were just a young girl." Another user shared a common sentiment, writing, "I’ll bet we all have a story about being 15 and getting lots of unwanted attention from grown men. My skin still crawls thinking about it and I’m 60. Ugh."
Other supportive messages praised Gilbert for her bravery, with comments such as "THAT needed to be said" and "Thank you for posting this," underscoring the significant impact of her personal testimony in challenging problematic narratives about childhood and exploitation.
