Stephen Collins’ Estranged Wife Faye Grant Slams Extortion Claim Over Tape

Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Police are investigating claims that 7th Heaven star Stephen Collins molested three girls years ago, after a tape of the actor discussing the incidents, recorded in 2012 by his estranged wife Faye Grant was made public yesterday.

Grant has denied having any part of the leak, saying that she turned over the recording to the authorities two years ago. Now, she’s defending herself against claims made by Collins’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, to TMZ that she “repeatedly threatened to give this audiotape to the media unless Stephen agreed to pay her millions of dollars more than that to which she was legally entitled.”

Grant told ABC News in a statement: “This is a deeply sad situation for everyone involved. 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’ statements has not been part of family court proceedings or any negotiations related to that action at any time.”

Collins, 67, and Grant are scheduled to begin their divorce trial next week, though they’ve been apart for some time: The actor filed for divorce in 2012, after more than 20 years of marriage. Larry A. Ginsberg, an attorney for Grant, reiterated his client’s claim that she turned over the tape to the LAPD and NYPD around the time of the couple’s split, “after Mr. Collins refused to address and get help with regard to his reprehensible conduct.”

“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 told ABC News in a statement. “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. Faye requested that Mr. Collins create a trust fund for their [adult] daughter, and further requested that he make a contribution to a charitable organization benefiting sexually abused children. To falsely characterize these requests as extortion threats is reckless and constitutes yet further abuse.”

TMZ reported that Kaplan said that he could not discuss the content of the tape.

“Though we would like to address the tape itself, the circumstances dictate that we must regrettably refrain from doing so at this time,” he said.

ABC News has reached out to Kaplan but has not heard back.

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