The child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him, the complaint said.
The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.
Busfield denied the allegations last fall (autumn, which runs from September to November in the United States) when interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, the complaint said. He suggested that the boys’ mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series. He also said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.
Busfield and Melissa Gilbert, pictured here in January 2020, have been married since 2013.Credit: Getty Images for BAM
Busfield’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Tuesday (overnight in Australia). A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2000 miles (3219km).
“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.
The mother of the twins – who are identified only by their initials in court records – reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024 (March through May in the US), the complaint said.
The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys’ parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.
The Cleaning Lady aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros, which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.
AP
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028, Lifeline 13 11 14 and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
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