Melissa Gilbert announced her departure from the Hallmark series "When Calls the Heart," stating "budget issues" as the reason. The announcement, made on Instagram, comes one day after her husband, Timothy Busfield, claimed his career was over following his indictment on child sex charges.
Gilbert, 62, who portrayed Georgie McGill in seasons 12 and 13 of the show, expressed her sadness about not returning for season 14. "I am told this is due to 'budget issues.' That said, I wish all my sweet friends in Hope Valley a wonderful and successful season 14," she wrote on Instagram.
However, many of Gilbert's followers voiced outrage, speculating that her exit is directly linked to Busfield's legal situation. "Budget issues is code for 'we don’t want to support you during a very difficult period in your family’s life,'" one commenter wrote. Another stated, "I think we all know it's nothing to do with budget issues."
Busfield, 69, was indicted in February on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under age 13. He has denied the allegations. According to testimony obtained by USA Today, Busfield told a grand jury in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in February that his "career's done." He described himself as "canceled" and stated he would "never work again" due to public perception, regardless of the truth. He also mentioned losing TV shows and a movie where he was digitally replaced, and that his agency had dropped him.
Busfield's attorney, Larry Stein, has asserted his client's innocence, stating that the case is "fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial." The trial is currently slated to begin in May 2027. Busfield surrendered to authorities in January and was released by a judge who noted no pattern of criminal behavior.
The allegations against Busfield stem from his work on the TV series "The Cleaning Lady," where he produced and directed. He claims the accusations were fabricated by parents seeking revenge after he excluded their children from the show's fourth season, and that the children were coached to make false accusations.
Gilbert's acting credits include a prominent role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in "Little House on the Prairie," alongside her late mentor Michael Landon Jr.'s father, Michael Landon. She also has a lifestyle business called Modern Prairie. Busfield, known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and "The West Wing," has also worked as a director on various television series. He was pictured in the Bernalillo County Courthouse in January, and in New Mexico in 2020. Gilbert was seen outside a hearing in January.