The battle continues. Stephen Collins' estranged wife Faye Grant released a statement to Us Weekly through her lawyer Larry Ginsberg on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Grant claimed she had nothing to do with the leaked recording of her husband's alleged child molestation confession.
"This is a deeply sad situation for everyone involved," Grant, 57, said in her statement. "With regard to the divorce proceedings, I am seeking no more than that to which I am legally entitled under the laws of the State of California. The recording of Mr. Collins has not been part of family court proceedings or any negotiations related to that action at any time."
Grant's attorney also slammed the notion that his client tried to extort the embattled 7th Heaven actor. "The statement that my client attempted to extort Mr. Stephen Collins with an audiotape is
fabricated and defamatory, and could not be farther from the truth," Ginsberg said in the statement. "In fact, Faye turned over the recording to the LAPD and NYPD two years ago after Mr. Collins refused to address and get help with regard to his reprehensible conduct."
Collins' attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan claimed that Grant tried to extort her ex-husband, in an attempt to take "millions of dollars more than that to which she is legally entitled."
Added Ginsberg: "It is offensive and outrageous that Mr. Collins’ lawyer is now attempting to deflect focus away from the disturbing content of the recording and away from Mr. Collins’ admissions by attacking the victims, including Faye, who Mr. Collins’ lawyer is attempting to portray as the 'villain' in this tragic situation."
Ginsberg also disclosed what assets Grant was looking to get from her divorce. "Faye never asked to receive more than the 50 percent of the community property to which she is entitled under California law. Faye never asked for more than the 'guideline' amount of spousal support based on Mr. Collins’ income. From the very beginning of the dissolution of marriage matter, Faye has worked diligently to get this matter settled and to put it behind her while coping with the distress and trauma suffered as a result of the revelations about Mr. Collins’ life."
In addition to these assets, Grant's lawyer claimed that she requested Collins create a trust fund for their daughter, Kate. Grant also asked her ex to "make a contribution to a charitable organization benefitting sexually abused children."
A recording of Collins allegedly confessing in a 2012 therapy session to molesting three young girls, was leaked earlier this week to TMZ. It still remains unclear who provided the recording to the site. In the wake of the scandal, Collins, 67, was fired from Ted 2, his scenes were pulled from ABC's smash drama Scandal, and the beleaguered actor had to step down from the board of the Screen Actors Guild. Reruns of his beloved WB show, 7th Heaven, were also pulled by UP TV this week.
Collins confirmed to Us in May 2012 that he and his wife were divorcing after 27 years of marriage. "My wife and I are moving forward separately in our lives," Collins told Us. "She has been my dearest friend and a loving mother. I know that we'll go through this process in a way that honors our family."
