The actress Melissa Gilbert responded publicly to Megyn Kelly after the comments that the presenter made about Jeffrey Epstein in The Megyn Kelly Showbroadcast on November 12 by Sirius XM.
During the show, Kelly expressed doubts about whether Epstein could be described as pedophile and maintained that his interest was focused on teenagers y not in little girls.
Gilbertrecognized for her role in The Ingalls familyintervened through social networks and joined the hashtag #iWasFifteena trend in which users shared images of their adolescence to point out the vulnerability of that stage.
In this context, the actress published photographs from when she was 15 yearstaken during the filming of The Ingalls familywhere he appeared in scenes with his co-star Dean Butlerolder than her at the time of filming.
The post worked like answer directly to Kelly’s approach and revived attention to the age and context in which situations involving children develop. minorsespecially in the television industry.
Melissa Gilbert was 15, Dean Butler was 23. Photo: Pinterest @christianfaget86In parallel to this exchange, the historic production of the series was mentioned again this year during the program’s 50th anniversary. According to his statements to PeopleButler noted that the age difference The distance between him and Gilbert during filming was greater than was ideal for the scenes they were performing.
Megyn Kelly’s comments about Epstein
On November 12, Megyn Kelly He dedicated a segment of his program to discussing the figure of Epstein.
In that context, he stated that the financier “preferred 15-year-old girls” and that, although the behavior was “disgusting,” it was not about interest in very young girls.
Kelly also claimed that Epstein used to get involved with young teenagers who they could look older to casual observers.
The fragment circulated widely and reopened debates about the terminology used to describe sexual crimes committed against minors.
The actress took aim at Kelly for downplaying Epstein’s alleged 15-year-old victims. Photo: IG @melissagilbertofficial / @IrishStarUSThe statements came at a time of renewed attention on the case, after new emails related to Epstein were disclosed by legislators and again mentioned public figures.
Gilbert adds at #iWasFiften
The actress joined the hashtag #iWasFifteen through Instagram and published photographs of his adolescence taken during the filming of The Ingalls family.
The November 15 post where Gilbert stated his position. Photo: IG @melissagilbertofficialIn those images he appeared with his co-star Dean Butler in emotional scenes corresponding to the plot of the series, including kisses.
In the description of the publication, Gilbert stressed that the photos corresponded to when she was 15 years old and specified that, during the recording, she worked accompanied by Michael Landon (director and producer), her mother and other members of the team, who – as she noted – were attentive to her welfare.
“I feel really nauseous”Gilbert wrote. “The girl who was on vacation with her family in Hawaii is the same one who had to ‘fall in love’ and kiss a man several years older than her in front of the cameras”.
«Today it is shocking to see. I have no other way to express it than to say: I WAS A GIRL. I WAS FIFTEEN YEARS OLD”. And in reference to minors who did not have adult supervision in similar situations, he added: «I was very lucky. A lot of other girls aren’t.»
The duo in “The Ingalls Family”, where they played the relationship of Laura and Almanzo. Photo: Pinterest @menardchantal1The actress concluded her message with a mention direct to the presenter: “@megynkelly, you have to be more careful with your words”.
A previous crossing and the framework of the Epstein case
He disagreement between Gilbert and Kelly is not recent. In January, Kelly had questioned in X a possible relaunch of The Ingalls family by Netflix and warned that would oppose if the project incorporated content that it considered politicized.
Gilbert then responded in Threads and maintained that the original series already addressed issues such as racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny and domestic violence.
The remake of the historical family drama is underway, although without a release date. Photo: ArchiveThe new crossing occurs in the middle of the debate over the Epstein Files Transparency Actwhich will be discussed on November 18 in the United States House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to force the Department of Justice to publish unclassified documents linked to the investigation into Epstein and his sex trafficking network.
The text proposes to keep under confidentiality the information that identifies victims or that may affect ongoing investigations, and requires the Department of Justice to justify to Congress any data that remains hidden.
Jeffrey Epstein, the financier convicted of sex trafficking of minors. Photo: AP
What is Melissa Gilbert doing now?
In parallel to the media exchange, Gilbert continues to develop his artistic career.
The evolution of Gilbert from his beginnings on television to the present. Photo: Pinterest @1kenb / IG @melissagilbertofficialAfter a period of seven years without television work, she returned in 2025 as a guest on the series When Calls the Heartfrom Hallmark. That same year he starred in the play Still in the circuit off-Broadwayexpanding his participation in theatrical projects.
Furthermore, it promotes Modern Prairiea lifestyle brand founded in 2022 (together with Nicole Haase) aimed at adult women that go through different stages of transition.
Gilbert is going through a stable family period with her husband, children and grandchildren. Photo: IG @melissagilbertofficialGilbert currently resides in New York with her husband. She has two children—Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner—from her previous marriages to the director. Bo Brinkman and the actor Bruce Boxleitnerand is the stepmother of five others, which also makes her the grandmother of eight.
