The Timothy Busfield Case is Another Wake-Up Call for Child Safety in Entertainment

by Chris Peterson

I read the Timothy Busfield headlines and felt that familiar pit in my stomach. The one that comes from seeing a name you recognize paired with words you never want to see next to anyone, especially when children are involved.

Reports this week indicate that an arrest warrant has been issued for Timothy Busfield in connection with alleged child sex abuse involving two former child actors. According to authorities, the allegations stem from incidents that reportedly occurred while Busfield was working on a television production, with one of the alleged victims later diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. Busfield has denied the allegations, and the case remains ongoing.

Before anything else, the necessary reminder: these are allegations. The legal process matters. Courts exist for a reason. All of that is true and important.

But here’s the thing. Even at the allegation stage, this story already tells us something we need to stop ignoring. We are still not doing enough to protect children in the entertainment industry. We like to believe we’ve moved past this. That safeguards are in place. That protocols exist. That lessons were learned from past failures. And on paper, sure, a lot has changed. There are rules now. Coordinators. Training. Policies. Handbooks.

But policies don’t protect kids. People do.

Any environment where children are working alongside adults, especially adults with power, authority, or influence over their careers, requires constant, active supervision. Not “usually.” Not “most of the time.” Not “we trust this person.” Constant. There should never be situations where a child is isolated with an adult on a set. Ever.

And yet, here we are again.

What makes these stories especially unsettling is how predictable they feel. Not in a cynical way, but in a structural one. Kids are taught to be compliant. To listen. To be grateful for the opportunity. To not rock the boat. That’s a dangerous mix when paired with adults who are given too much trust and too little oversight.

If a child feels uncomfortable, they need to know exactly who they can talk to and trust that speaking up won’t cost them a job, a role, or a future. And the adults in charge need to be ready to act immediately, not quietly investigate later or “keep an eye on it.”

One of the most devastating details in the reporting is that one of the alleged victims has since been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. That’s not just an unfortunate consequence. That’s the price of an industry that too often prioritizes production over protection.

And let’s be honest, this isn’t about one man or one set. It never is. Every time a story like this breaks, there’s a rush to label it an outlier. A shocking exception. But history tells us otherwise. From film to television to theatre spaces, we’ve seen again and again what happens when warning signs are ignored or minimized.

Protecting children cannot be treated as an inconvenience or an added expense. It is not something you “try your best” to do. It is the baseline requirement for working with minors. Full stop.

If that means slowing things down, so be it. If that means adding more oversight, do it. If that means removing someone from a production while concerns are investigated, that’s the cost of doing this responsibly.

Because no show, no performance, no deadline is worth a child’s safety.

Kids enter this industry trusting adults to keep them safe. When that trust is broken, the damage doesn’t end when the project wraps. It follows them. Sometimes for years. Sometimes for life.

If the Timothy Busfield allegations lead to anything meaningful, I hope it’s not just another round of shock and statements. I hope it forces real, uncomfortable conversations about power, access, and accountability. And I hope it reminds every producer, director, and institution of the most important job they have when children are involved.

Protect the kids. Every time. No exceptions.