Melissa Gilbert Sings '90s Hit Amid Husband's Child Sex Abuse Charges

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Melissa Gilbert, the former 'Little House on the Prairie' star, shared a video of herself singing and dancing to the 1994 Des'ree song 'You Gotta Be' just days after her husband Timothy Busfield pleaded not guilty to four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 on the charges, which pertain to alleged incidents in October 2022 and September 2023 involving two 11-year-old boys.

Why it matters

Gilbert's upbeat social media post has drawn a mixed response from fans, with some criticizing her for appearing to 'make light' of the serious charges against her husband. The case has raised concerns about child safety on television sets and the entertainment industry's handling of such allegations.

The details

In the video posted to Gilbert's lifestyle company's Instagram account, the 61-year-old actress is seen singing along to the lyrics of Des'ree's empowering 1994 hit 'You Gotta Be.' The caption encourages followers to 'sing it with us' as a reminder to be 'a little braver... a little steadier... a little wiser' in the face of life's challenges. Some fans praised the video, while others felt it was inappropriate given the circumstances surrounding Busfield's legal troubles.

• On February 6, Timothy Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13).
• On February 10, Busfield pleaded not guilty to all charges.
• On February 23, Melissa Gilbert shared the video of herself singing and dancing to the Des'ree song on Instagram.

What’s next

The judge in Timothy Busfield's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.