After stepping away from social media last month, Melissa Gilbert returned to her lifestyle brand, Modern Prairie. She added that she is also coming back to role as Chief Creative Officer.
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This news comes after the Little House on the Prairie star's husband, actor Timothy Busfield, was charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse stemming from allegations he sexually abused two young actors while working as a director on the set of the drama The Cleaning Lady.
Melissa Gilbert Says She's Returning To Work "Thoughtfully and With Care"
The 61-year-old actress made the announcement today, Feb. 16. This news comes 10 days after Busfield was indicted by a grand jury in New Mexico on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child. These are third-degree felonies related to events that occurred between October 2022 and September 2023.
Gilbert had deleted her personal Instagram account after authorities issued an arrest warrant for the 68-year-old Busfield. The couple married in 2013. Gilbert co-founded Modern Prairie, her apparel and decor brand, in 2022.
"I wanted to take a moment to speak with you directly," begins Gilbert. "As many of you know, I stepped away for a little while to focus on my family. It was time I needed — time to be present, to tend to what matters most and to gather my strength in a season that has not been easy."
Gilbert said it was the brand's "extraordinary community" that encouraged her to step back into her role. She plans to do so "thoughtfully and with care."
"Coming back to work does not change my commitment or my resolve to the journey that lies ahead for my family — that remains steadfast, that remains my heart," she notes. "But it is important for me to step back into this work. It strengthens my mindset, it gives me purpose, it reminds me of who I am beyond hard days."
Busfield Denies the Charges Against Him
PEOPLE reported that Gilbert supported Busfield at his pretrial detention hearing and wrote a letter of support to the judge. Despite surrendering to the police, Busfield has maintained his innocence.
"I did not do anything," he said in a video obtained by TMZ. "They're all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm gonna fight it. 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."
