Melissa Gilbert is cut from hit show after husband was ‘canceled’

Melissa Gilbert has revealed she is not returning to her highly-popular Hallmark series due to budget issues, but fans are outraged as many believe that her departure actually has to do with her husband Timothy Busfield being indicted on child Sєx charges.

The 62-year-old actress took to her Instagram on Thursday to make the shock announcement that she will not be returning for season 14 of When Calls the Heart. 

This comes one day after her husband Busfield, 69, said his career is over, as he has allegedly been ‘canceled’ after he was indicted on four counts of criminal Sєxual contact with a child under age 13 earlier this year. 

Gilbert had appeared as Georgie McGill in season 12 and 13 of the Hallmark series led by Erin Krakow.

The actress wrote: ‘Many people have asked if I will be returning to When Calls the Heart this coming season. The answer to that is no I will not.

‘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.’

Melissa Gilbert has revealed she is not returning to her highly-popular Hallmark series due to budget issues, but fans are outraged as many believe that her departure actually has to do with her husband Timothy Busfield being indicted on child Sєx charges (seen June 2023)

Busfield said his career is over, as he has been effectively ‘canceled’ after he was indicted on four counts of criminal Sєxual contact with a child under age 13 earlier this year. Busfield pictured in the Bernalillo County Courthouse on January 20

Many of her followers were very upset about the news as many blasted the Hallmark Channel and ᴀsserted it was the cable television network’s decision due to the legal situation her actor husband has found himself in.

One wrote: ‘Budget issues is code for “we don’t want to support you during a very difficult period in your family’s life.” Sorry this is happening to you! [tear emoji] always supporting you and your family!’

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‘I think we all know it’s nothing to do with budget issues,’ another Instagram user wrote while a different commenter posted: ‘Shame on you @hallmarkchannel @melissagilbertofficial was awesome on this show!!’ Big mistake.’ 

Gilbert wrote in her caption that her time on the series was ‘lovely’ as she also thanked ‘dear friend’ and executive producer on the series, Michael Landon Jr., for ‘giving me the chance to bring Georgie McGill to life.’

Landon Jr.’s father Michael Landon famously portrayed Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie alongside Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder from 1974 to 1983. 

Meanwhile, Gilbert’s husband Busfield told a grand jury in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in February that his ‘career’s done’ in the wake of the allegations, according to testimony from the district attorney’s office that was obtained Wednesday by USA Today.

‘I’m canceled,’ Busfield said. ‘I’ll never, I don’t, I’ll never work again just based on people’s fear that I would do this again and, and even if it wasn’t true, I’m done.’

He continued: ‘I’ve lost TV shows, a movie they’ve digitally replaced me from. My agency fired me. I’m done. This is not about me or a pity thing.’

The 62-year-old actress took to her Instagram on Thursday to make the shock announcement that she will not be returning for season 14 of When Calls the Heart

Gilbert had appeared as Georgie McGill in season 12 and 13 of the Hallmark series led by Erin Krakow

Many of her followers were very upset about the news as many blasted the Hallmark Channel and ᴀsserted it was the cable television network’s decision due to the legal situation her actor husband has found himself in

Busfield said in two hours of testimony to the grand jury that his last hope was that his wife Gilbert’s career was not sunk by his legal troubles.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Busfield’s attorney for further comment.

‘My children, grandchildren, everybody in my life is done because of these false allegations for money and for revenge,’ Busfield told the 12-person grand jury. ‘My wife and her business, I’m not going to break that.’

In addition to her acting efforts, Gilbert has a lifestyle business called Modern Prairie. 

She has recently begun selling goods inspired by her former series Little House on the Prairie amid a renewed interest in the brand since a Netflix reboot made its debut earlier this month. 

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Busfield is charged with four counts of criminal Sєxual contact with a child under 13, which he has denied.

Prosecutors in New Mexico announced on February 6 that Busfield had been indicted in connection with four counts of criminal Sєxual contact with a child under 13.

The allegations against Busfield involve two child actors who worked with him on the TV series The Cleaning Lady, which he produced and worked as a director on from 2022–2025.

In his grand jury testimony, Busfield denied improper contact with the children. He claimed that the allegations were spurred by spite from their parents after he left them out of the cast for the series’ fourth season, according to the report.

The actor told the court that the parents allegedly coached their children to falsely accuse him of the improper conduct. 

Busfield is charged with four counts of criminal Sєxual contact with a child under age 13, which he has denied. Pictured in 2020 in NYC 

Gilbert seen outside one of the hearings 

Busfield turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico on January 13 amid the allegations 

As he delivered testimony, Busfield told the grand jury that he was nervous, adding, ‘This is all very real and the stakes are very high.’

The grand jury also heard testimony from Albuquerque Police Officer Marvin Brown in the February 5 session, and did not request to speak to any more witnesses in the case.

The actor’s attorney Larry Stein previously told the outlet that his client is innocent, and that facts in the case would bear that out as it circulated through the legal system.

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‘What is deeply concerning is that the District Attorney is choosing to proceed on a case that is fundamentally unsound and cannot be proven at trial,’ Stein said.

The trial is currently slated to commence in May of 2027.

In January, Busfield surrendered himself to authorities, but he was subsequently let out of jail by a judge who said the actor hadn’t demonstrated a pattern of criminal behavior.

The Michigan-born actor has appeared in films including Field of Dreams, Little Big League and Revenge of the Nerds; and on TV shows such as The West Wing and Thirtysomething.

Busfield has also racked up multiple credits as a director, having worked extensively behind the lens on shows such as The Client List, The Night Shift and Designated Survivor.