Former Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert is facing intense criticism for posting about the contents of her refrigerator while remaining silent on serious child sex abuse charges filed against her husband, actor Timothy Busfield.
A Tone-Deaf Social Media Post
The 61-year-old actress, who co-founded the lifestyle brand Modern Prairie, shared a series of images on the company's Instagram account this week, detailing the 'good stuff' inside her test kitchen fridge. The post featured multiple egg cartons and shelves stacked with butter, accompanied by captions about the 'building blocks of magical meals.'
This seemingly innocuous domestic update landed with a thud among many followers, coming as Busfield, 68, was driving 2,000 miles to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to turn himself in to authorities. He faces two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and child abuse, allegations he has vehemently denied.
Gilbert, reached by the Daily Mail on Tuesday, refused to comment on the charges, later texting to refer all questions to her husband's lawyer, Larry Stein.
Backlash and a Brand in Crisis
The response from the Modern Prairie community was swift and severe. Followers accused Gilbert of ignoring a grave personal crisis to focus on trivial brand marketing. 'Maybe take a break from the socials marketing for a bit…,' urged one commenter, Michelle Gowan.
Another, identified as Allison C., suggested the brand was deleting negative comments, writing, 'I think right now you're getting asked more than anything why your founder is married to a paedophile.'
Follower Barbara Ciner questioned Gilbert's judgement, stating, 'I'm just curious how she lets all those grandkids around him and in such close proximity. How do you trust?'
In response to the growing scandal, Modern Prairie released a statement distancing the company from the allegations. It said the charges 'do not involve Modern Prairie, our operations, nor our community,' and that they were 'respecting the privacy of the family.' The statement added, 'Modern Prairie unequivocally condemns abuse in all forms.'
A Dramatic Surrender and a Raid
As Busfield surrendered in Albuquerque, where he was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center, a separate drama unfolded at the couple's home. Heavily armed US Marshals raided their secluded property in New York's Catskill Mountains, battering down the front door in a search for the accused. The raid, which included searches of an RV and a shed, appeared to be a communications error, as Busfield was already in custody over 1,800 miles away.
According to an arrest warrant, the investigation began in early November 2024 after a doctor reported suspected sexual abuse. The allegations involve twin boys, now 11, who met Busfield on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady, where he worked as an actor and director. One boy alleged Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing three or four times when he was seven, with further incidents a year later. His twin brother reported similar fondling.
The warrant also references previous sexual assault allegations against Busfield from the 1990s, which did not lead to prosecution.
In footage obtained by TMZ, Busfield declared the accusations 'all lies,' stating, 'I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm [going to] fight it.'
The controversy presents a stark contrast to Gilbert's own recent advocacy. Just months before the allegations surfaced, she spoke out about the sexual exploitation of child actors, expressing nausea over having to kiss a significantly older actor when she was 15 on the set of Little House.
Gilbert, who married Busfield in 2013 and has described their union as 'perfect,' has gone dark on her personal Instagram account. The scandal now casts a long shadow over her carefully curated brand, Modern Prairie, which promotes a homespun, wholesome aesthetic inspired by her most famous role.
