Susan Olsen reveals the TRUTH behind the Florence Henderson-Barry Williams rumors

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• The former child star spoke about the alleged encounter between her co-stars
• There has been speculation that her on-screen mom and brother had an affair
• Susan, now 61 years old, furiously hit back and said she 'disliked the rumors'

By RAVEN SAUNT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 18:01 EDT, 22 May 2023 | UPDATED: 18:32 EDT, 22 May 2023

Brady Bunch star Susan Olsen has revealed the truth behind the sordid rumors of an affair that have haunted her TV family for years.

The former child star, who played Cindy Brady in the 1970s sitcom, spoke to Fox News Digital about the alleged encounter between her co-stars.

The now 61-year-old furiously hit back at the speculation that her on-screen mom Carol Brady and brother Greg Brady had a relationship.

She said: 'I disliked the rumors that Florence Henderson and Barry Williams had an affair.'

In the interview, released this week, Susan attempted to clarify the extent of the actors' friendship.

She said: 'Barry had a crush on her. She was very kind to him. She let him take her out for her birthday. It was completely innocent.

'She wouldn't have done anything that wasn't innocent. She was a mother.'

Susan, who stepped away from the world of showbusiness aged 23, continued: 'So I don't like the implication that's been out there, that something was going on with them. There wasn't anything going on with them except for mutual respect and love.'

Florence, who died in 2016 aged 82, had herself previously shared details of the birthday outing.

She told People in 1991: 'He had a crush on me, and he asked me out for a date, which I'll never forget.

'He was too young to drive, so his older brother brought him to my hotel, and then I drove us to the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where we saw a singer. It was so sweet because Barry made sure we had a good table.'

'After the show, his brother picked him up and took him home. The crush was a very serious thing for him, so I was never condescending. I certainly liked him too, but I wasn't exactly the Cher of the TV mom set.'

Barry too discussed the occasion in his 1992 book 'Growing Up Brady.'

He wrote: 'When those little things called hormones start kicking in, you get excited by even inanimate objects.

'It wasn't that I sought to bed her. I just wanted to spend time with her. It was flattering that she gave me any attention at all.'

The Brady Bunch, which first aired in 1969, followed the lighthearted misadventures of a large blended family living in suburban America.

It ended in 1974 but continued to resonate with audiences with various re-runs reaching screens in the years since.

Speaking about the bond between the actors, Susan, who remains close to the other members of the cast, said: 'The love you see between all of us – it's absolutely genuine. I don't think you can fool an audience for very long.

'I think the reason people loved us is that they knew we loved each other.'

[Yong Fang]

Henderson was 40 and Williams was 20 when the show ended in 1974. For me this would have been an odd relationship of it was true. When I was 20, someone 40 would be an old person, old enough to be my parent. If I was 20, I want someone around my age. If I was him, maybe Maureen or Eve Plumb, but I don’t know them or their personality or if they were dating anybody.

I also think it’s weird to date someone who is that much younger or older than you anyway. I however do not see anything wrong about a 40 year old wanting to screw a 20 year old for a casual sex romp, but 20, while and adult is still young and more probably wanting to think that the relationship is serious while the older person doesn’t. If that makes sense. I am at the age where twenty is still a kid, I mean in America, it is illegal for them to drink alcohol.

I am a man and if I was 40 and a 20 year old Maureen McCormack was on me, be hard to say no, but she would have to know that this is casual sex and not a serious relationship.

[Rich3]

I think he was looking forward to singing in the show, and this crush preceded all of that. She had already sung in the Christmas episode, and I think that is possibly what made him admire her.