Former Child Actors Challenge Megyn Kelly’s Epstein Remarks

Former child actors have publicly criticized television host Megyn Kelly following her controversial remarks about the victims of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Kelly’s comments, made during her podcast, raised questions about Epstein’s classification as a pedophile, prompting backlash from several actors who were once children in the entertainment industry.

Among those responding is Melissa Gilbert, known for her role on the series “Little House on the Prairie.” In a powerful social media post, Gilbert shared a photograph of herself at the age of 15 and participated in the trending hashtag #iWasFifteen. She expressed her discomfort with the implications of Kelly’s statements, stating, “After seeing many women’s posts with the hashtags #iwasfifteen #imfifteen #iwasachild, I decided to google search myself at that age and see what came up. And this is some of what I found … and now, at this age, at this time, I am actually nauseated.”

Gilbert reflected on her experiences during her childhood acting career, particularly a scene in which her character fell in love with a man several years her senior. She emphasized, “I WAS A CHILD,” highlighting the importance of protection for young actors in the industry. “Thank God my mom and (co-star) Michael Landon 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. @megynkelly you need to be careful with your words.”

Actress Christina Ricci, famous for portraying Wednesday Addams in the “Addams Family” films, also expressed her disapproval of Kelly’s comments. She stated unequivocally on social media, “This woman is a danger to children.”

Another notable voice in the conversation is Valerie Bertinelli, who starred as a child actress in the sitcom “One Day At a Time.” She shared a personal photo from 1975, asserting, “This picture was taken in 1975. I’m 15. I’m a child.” Bertinelli added, “It doesn’t matter that I got a job. It doesn’t matter what I was doing. I was a child. Maybe we should flood the Internet with pictures of all of us at 15?”

The reactions from these actresses highlight a broader concern regarding the portrayal and treatment of children in the entertainment industry. The hashtag movement, which has gained traction on social media, aims to raise awareness about the experiences of those who were minors in similar situations.

As discussions continue around the protection of young individuals in media and entertainment, the voices of former child actors are becoming increasingly prominent. They seek to remind audiences that, regardless of their professional circumstances, they were still children deserving of safety and respect.