Tim Allen has addressed the recent legal troubles his Home Improvement co-star Zachery Ty Bryan has been facing in a new report that details Bryan’s 2020 arrest for domestic violence and the scam he allegedly spearheaded.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Allen admitted, “I don’t know what’s going on with him.”
The former child star played Allen’s eldest son Tim in the classic sitcom.
“Zach is a great kid who has grown into a complex man. All you can do is step aside and let somebody go through their process. At a certain point, he deviated from the guy I know to somebody who is reacting to situations that I had nothing to do with and can’t control,” Allen told THR. “I don’t know what happens when people get corrupted. You just don’t know.”
According to the report, Bryan made millions after investing his Home Improvement earnings into Bitcoin. He rose to fame as a commentator in right-wing media and portrayed himself as “this great man with strong Christian values,” according to an industry insider.
But in October 2020, he was arrested and charged in Oregon with felony strangulation after an incident with Johnnie Faye Cartwright, who was reportedly his girlfriend at the time. This arrest occurred just months after he was arrested for driving under the influence in Orange County.
The actor, who later pled guilty to menacing and fourth-degree assault, told THR the arrest “got so blown out of proportion.”
Four separate sources also came forward in accusing Bryan of stealing almost $50,000 from them in a fraudulent scheme involving an agricultural-tech company called Producers Market.
A spokesperson for the company claimed to THR, “Mr. Bryan misrepresented our company without our knowledge, participation or permission. When we found out, we immediately issued a cease-and-desist demand to him.”
When asked about the claims of fraud, Bryan rejected the idea that he was conning them, telling THR, “This was not me running some shady scam deal or something — that’s just not me,” and later adding, “What people don’t understand is that you take risks. Nothing is for sure. It’s the same with movie investments and everything else, you lose or you win.”
Friends of the actor also expressed concern for him, with Travis Aaron Wade saying, “It’s sad because you really do fall in love with him. He’s a great guy. But I see it as my responsibility to not let other people get taken advantage of.”
Allen added, “I know Zach’s heart. He’s got to figure out his own way.”
Allen has faced some unsavory allegations of his own after Pamela Anderson claimed he flashed her on the Home Improvement set; Allen has since refuted the claims.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.
Read the full article here
Discussion about this post