On Wednesday, Melissa Gilbert made an unexpected comeback on Instagram, surprising fans with her first post since January. This came just days before her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, was accused of child sex abuse. "That's right. I'm back," Gilbert captioned two photos, one of crochet dolls in her likeness and that of Nicole Haase, her co-founder of lifestyle brand Modern Prairie, and the other of the women themselves.
She also shared a tease from the brand that a big announcement would be made on Friday at 9 p.m. PT on Instagram Live. "Modern Prairie co-founders Nicole and Melissa are getting into the frame and into the picture, and we cannot wait to share what's next," the caption read. The post noted that the company would be launching a new campaign, "Get in the Picture," with "many exciting things to share, including special guests you've missed hearing from."
Gilbert had deactivated her accounts on Instagram and Threads following the allegations against Busfield, whom she married in 2013. He was accused of inappropriately touching 11-year-old twin boys that he worked with on Fox's The Cleaning Lady on multiple occasions between November 2022 and the spring of 2024. He worked as an executive producer and director on the series.
Busfield, who starred on TV's Thirtysomething and The West Wing, has denied the allegations against him and pleaded not guilty in court. His trial has been set to begin on May 10, 2027. "I'm going to confront these lies," he said when he was arrested. "They're horrible. They're all lies. And I did not do anything to those little boys, and I'm going to fight it. I'm going to fight it with a great team, and I'm going to be exonerated."
Gilbert, who has spoken in support of Busfield, has since appeared in social media content for Modern Prairie, including a Friday post that showed her celebrating her 62nd birthday by blowing out candles on a cake. When she was told to make a wish, Gilbert replied, "Oh, I know what that's going to be." She returned to her job there in February.
"As many of you know, I stepped away for a little while to focus on my family," Gilbert said. "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."
