Former Child Actors Challenge Megyn Kelly Over Epstein Remarks

Former child actors have publicly criticized Megyn Kelly for her recent comments regarding the victims of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. During an episode of her podcast, Kelly appeared to question whether Epstein could be classified as a pedophile, prompting a backlash from those who felt her remarks were dismissive of the experiences of young victims.

In response, actress Melissa Gilbert shared a photo of herself at the age of 15 on social media, participating in the trending hashtag #iWasFifteen. In her post, Gilbert expressed her discomfort with Kelly’s comments, 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 highlighted her role in the popular television series Little House on the Prairie, where her character was portrayed as falling in love with a man significantly older than herself. She noted, “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.”

Reflecting on her own experiences, Gilbert emphasized the importance of having supportive figures around her during her childhood in the industry. “I WAS FIFTEEN,” she stated forcefully. “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.”

Actress Christina Ricci, known for her role as Wednesday Addams in the Addams Family films, also joined the conversation, expressing her concern on social media about Kelly’s comments. She described Kelly as “a danger to children,” further intensifying the call for accountability regarding discussions about young victims.

Another former child star, Valerie Bertinelli, shared a photograph from her own teenage years, stating, “This picture was taken in 1975. I’m 15. I’m a child.” Bertinelli reinforced the notion that regardless of their careers or experiences, young actors were still children at that age. She 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 backlash against Kelly’s remarks highlights the sensitivity surrounding discussions of childhood trauma and exploitation, particularly in the context of high-profile cases like that of Epstein. The responses from Gilbert, Ricci, and Bertinelli serve as a reminder of the importance of handling such topics with care and empathy, especially when addressing the experiences of vulnerable individuals.

As the conversation continues, many former child actors are taking a stand, using their platforms to advocate for awareness and understanding of the lasting impact of childhood experiences in the entertainment industry.