Busfield Out of Amazon Rom-Com Amid Abuse Allegations
Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly removed Timothy Busfield from "You Deserve Each Other" following child sexual abuse allegations. The actor faces multiple charges stemming from incidents on "The Cleaning Lady" and a past audition. His agency has dropped him, and an SVU episode was withdrawn.
Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly removed Timothy Busfield from its forthcoming romantic comedy, "You Deserve Each Other," in light of recent child sexual abuse allegations. The film, which features Meghann Fahy and Penn Badgley in the lead roles, is an adaptation of Sarah Hogle's popular 2020 novel. The story centers on an engaged couple navigating a rough patch, attempting to sabotage each other's desire for marriage, only to rediscover their love. Busfield was slated to portray Bernie, the father of Fahy's character, Naomi. A release date for the movie has not yet been confirmed.
The actor and director faced a serious legal development on January 9th when an arrest warrant was issued for him concerning alleged conduct with minors on the set of Fox's "The Cleaning Lady." Busfield subsequently surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He faces charges including two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse, stemming from an investigation into alleged sexual abuse involving two underage males on the drama series, for which he directed several episodes and appeared in one.
Despite maintaining his innocence regarding these accusations, Busfield has since been confronted with an additional sexual abuse allegation. Court documents indicate he is accused of groping a teenage girl during an audition several years ago at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California.
This is not the first time Busfield has encountered such allegations. He previously settled with a 17-year-old extra who accused him of sexual abuse on the set of the 1994 film "Little Big League," which he directed. Furthermore, in 2012, another woman alleged that Busfield groped her during a date, though no charges were filed at that time.
In response to the mounting accusations, Busfield's talent agency, Innovative Artists, has terminated their professional relationship with him. Additionally, an episode of "Law & Order: SVU" featuring the actor as a guest star has been withdrawn. Busfield is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on January 20th.
