Melissa Gilbert is reflecting on her experience as a child star in “Little House on the Prairie” after nearly 50 years since the show first aired. The now 61-year-old actress, who portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder on the beloved NBC series from 1974 to 1983, took to Instagram on November 15 to express her mixed feelings about her youth and the age gap between herself and her on-screen romantic partner, Dean Butler, who was 23 when she was just 15.
In her post, Gilbert shared several photos from her childhood and expressed her discomfort at the thought of being cast in a romantic role at such a young age. “The girl on vacation in Hawaii with her family is the same girl who was expected to ‘fall in love with’ and kiss a man on film who was several years older than she was,” she wrote, adding that such a situation feels “shocking” through a contemporary lens. Gilbert emphasized, “I WAS A CHILD. I WAS FIFTEEN.”
Despite these unsettling reflections, Gilbert acknowledged her fortune in having a supportive network around her during her formative years. She credited her mother and co-star Michael Landon, who played her father on the show, for ensuring her well-being. “Thank God my mom and Michael and so many others were there to make sure I was safe. Can you imagine if I hadn’t had them all? I am so fortunate (Sort of). Many other young women aren’t,” she stated.
In addition to her personal reflections, Gilbert took the opportunity to criticize comments made by Megyn Kelly on her show regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims. Gilbert urged caution over minimizing the severity of child sexual assault and emphasized the need for society to continue advocating for survivors.
Epstein, who was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of child sex trafficking, had a notorious history of exploiting underage girls. He died in jail shortly after his arrest, leaving many questions unanswered and a significant impact on the dialogue surrounding child protection and abuse.
While Gilbert’s memories may bring discomfort, her reflection is a poignant reminder of the progress that still needs to be made in protecting children in the entertainment industry and beyond. Her emphasis on safety and support highlights the importance of nurturing environments for young talent and advocates for continued awareness and dialogue around these critical issues.