Stephen Collins, best known for his role in “7th Heaven,”is making headlines once again as his marriage to Jenny Nagel, who is 40 years his junior, and his past child molestation scandal become central themes in an upcoming episode of Investigation Discovery’s special, “Hollywood Demons.”This exposé is slated to air on March 24, as reported by Page Six.
The controversy surrounding Collins dates back to 2014, when TMZ unveiled a leaked audio recording from a marriage counseling session with his ex-wife, Faye Grant. In this recording, Collins admitted to abusing three minors during the years 1973, 1982, and 1994.
Following a significant time away from the public eye, Collins remarried Jenny Nagel in July 2019, and the couple currently resides in Fairfield, Iowa. Dr. Drew Pinsky, a prominent American media personality, remarked that Nagel was a devoted fan of Collins, saying:
“Stephen Collins now lives with a woman who is 40 years younger than him. She was a superfan.”
Collins Addresses His Past
In December 2014, following the leak of the marriage counseling recording, Collins provided a statement to People, clarifying that the conversation from January 2012 was shared without authorization from either him or the therapist.
Reflecting on the disturbing revelations, Collins openly expressed that he feels deep remorse for his past actions and has been actively seeking redemption. He stated:
“Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret. I have been working to atone for it ever since.”
Collins also disclosed that one of his victims was a relative of his then-wife, Faye Grant, and was only 11 years old at the time of the incident. Reports confirm that authorities are aware of at least three victims involved in this appalling chapter of Collins’s life. He argued that the media misrepresented the situation, emphasizing:
“This session was recorded without the therapist’s or my knowledge or consent. The publication of the recording has resulted in assumptions and innuendos about what I did that go far beyond what actually occurred.”
During his interview with People, Collins reported that he did manage to reach out to one of the victims fifteen years after the incident to offer an apology, although he refrained from contacting the others. He elaborated:
“I did have an opportunity to do so with one of the women, 15 years later. I apologized and she was extraordinarily gracious. But after I learned… that my being direct about such matters could actually make things worse for them… I have not approached the other two women.”
The six-part docuseries “Hollywood Demons,”which promises to delve deeper into these unsettling issues, is set to debut on March 24 and will be available for streaming on Max.