Stephen Collins fired from ‘Ted 2’ after alleged sex-abuse confession
Actor Stephen Collins has been dropped from the film “Ted 2†after an audio recording emerged Tuesday in which the actor allegedly admits to sexually abusing underage girls, The Times has confirmed.
Production is currently underway on the sequel to writer-director-actor Seth MacFarlane’s 2012 comedy hit about a foul-mouthed teddy bear. Collins, best known for his role as a minister and father on the TV series “7th Heaven,†was to play a small part.
Entertainment Weekly first reported the news that Collins was released from the film, which is set for release June 26, 2015, from Universal Pictures.
Collins, 67, has not been charged with a crime, but New York police are investigating him in the wake of TMZ’s publication of an audiotape it said was made by Collins’ estranged wife during a therapy session in 2012. The man on the tape mentions two victims in New York and one in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.
Los Angeles police told The Times the department has been in contact with the NYPD but has not opened its own formal investigation. “We’re looking into it,†LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.
Collins had previously teased his involvement in “Ted 2†on Twitter. Asked what his role in the film would be, the actor on Saturday wrote, “I’d tell you but @SethMacFarlane would have to kill me.â€
“Ted 2†was not alone in distancing itself from Collins on Tuesday: Up TV announced that it was pulling “7th Heaven†reruns from its schedule.
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