The NYPD is investigating actor Stephen Collins after receiving audio tapes in which he confesses to molesting at least three underage girls, including one child relative of his former wife.
The tapes, published by TMZ this morning, were recorded by the 67-year-old actor’s estranged wife Faye Grant and are totally legal. In California, you can apparently secretly record private conversations if they implicate someone in a felony crime, and since the recordings were unknown to the couple’s therapist, they don’t violate physician-patient privilege.
TMZ says:
You hear Collins flatly confess to molesting an 11-year-old New York girl — a relative of his first wife — saying, “There was one moment of touching where her hand, I put her hand on my penis.” He also acknowledges exposing himself to the girl “a couple of times” … he says when she was 11, 12 and 13.
Grant asks, “When you exposed yourself … did you have an erection?” He responds, “No, I mean, no. Partial, maybe I think.”
Grant then inquires about other girls. Collins mentions an L.A. girl who lived in their neighborhood, but says he tried righting the wrong by apologizing to her years later.
You probably best know Collins as the pastoral father from 7th Heaven, Uncle Saul’s gay partner on Brothers & Sisters, and from gay favorites like The First Wives Club, Broadway’s The Ritz, and ABC’s new (same-sex) family drama The Fosters.
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The NYPD has confirmed at least three victims in the investigation of his “inappropriate sexual contact with minors.” Collins unsurprisingly has “no comment.”
You can hear the audio tapes over at TMZ.
Jonathan26
Wow! Just wow!
Manchester
I used to be so in love with this guy back in the day.
Cam
See, this is why it is so dangerous for straight people to be allowed to marry, or to adopt children.
Tackle
Oh no!! Not the dad from 7th Heaven. Please say this is not true!?!
Dwight
Okay I understand why this is a story. It’s terrible.
But unless he has an antigay history not mentioned in the article I don’t understand what is the nexus for this article appearing on Queerty. It’s almost as if you’re equating pedophilia with homosexuality.
Chris
@Dwight: I think that it is relevant to the gay community because so many of us followed seventh heaven, fantasizing about an understanding father who, for all his frailties, deeply loved his children. THAT is something way too many of us lacked in our own lives. ….. Just my hunch.
I am disappointed; but as I think of it, that is what I get for being so quick to confound the man with the actor and thinking that the man (not the character) might have been a role model.
Desert Boy
I always liked Stephen Collins and found him attractive. I hope it isn’t true.
Sweet Boy
He was a hunky dad…I had fantasies about him molesting me every night and making me his boy…
QJ201
Well at least it wasn’t boys, leave that to religious men.
Desert Boy
How did this tape go public? Faye Grant?
stranded
I agree with Dwight, this story is on all the major gossip sites, why is it on a site focused on gay culture?
Cam
It gives all of those “Come sit on your dad’s lap to talk about your problems” scenes a creepier vibe doesn’t it?
Silas Wegg
It seems like every other week, there’s a new story about a gay man raping or molesting or hypnotizing a helpless boy. This is a nice counterpoint — straights pervs still do it too!
NJjoe
Why did it take two years to surface these tapes after Grant divorced Collins in 2012?
iggy6666
People like this need their nutts snipped
Merv
The headline is confusing me. Was he molesting children who were undergoing therapy, or did his therapy sessions involve molesting children?
Cam
@Merv:
He admitted, in a therapy session, that he had molested children who were relatives of his wife. She secretly recorded the session.
See, this is why Straight people shouldn’t be allowed to marry or adopt children.