Melissa Gilbert Responds to Jason Bateman Hazing Claim on Little House on the Prairie
As Netflix pursues a reboot of the classic series, Gilbert's reply adds to the conversation about the show's legacy and its cast.
Melissa Gilbert has weighed in on Jason Bateman's claim that he was hazed by older child stars on Little House on the Prairie. Bateman, who played James Cooper Ingalls on the NBC series from 1981 to 1982, appeared on Hot Ones last week and described an on-set hazing ritual in which his older castmates pinned him to the ground, straddled him with knees on his shoulders, and gave him noogies on his chest. He said he asked a makeup artist to leave a large black-and-blue mark on his chest and later told the parents what happened, adding that it was "good" because it got the others in trouble.
Melissa Gilbert, who portrayed Laura Ingalls Wilder on the show, reposted a People article about the claim and wrote, "Who? Who did this to you?!?!" on social media, a reply that quickly sparked renewed chatter about the long-running series and its behind-the-scenes dynamics. Gilbert's public response occurs as fans revisit the beloved family drama, which aired from 1974 into 1983 and helped launch the careers of several of its young stars.
In January, Netflix announced a reboot of the iconic Western drama, nearly four decades after the original wrapped. The streamer described the new series as a "part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West." The project is not expected to feature the original cast.
Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson in the original run, told ReMIND that none of the core OG cast members are involved at this point. Arngrim said the reboot isn’t a straight revival; it will not bring back Doc Baker, Miss Beadle, or other original staples, and it will instead go back to the source material with a broader focus on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books—the so-called Laura Ingalls Wilder multiverse.
Jinny Howe, Netflix's vice president of drama series, told The Hollywood Reporter the reboot will be a fresh take on the iconic story and credited showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine with shaping a version that aims to resonate with both new and longtime fans of the franchise.