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SCANDALS: FLORENCE HENDERSON and BARRY WILLIAMS

A rumor began during the run of the 1970s TV show The Brady Bunch. It was that 36-year-old Florence Henderson and co-star, 16-year-old Barry Williams, who played the oldest son Greg, dated and had an affair. This shocking bit of scandal haunted Henderson long after the show ended.

At the time the show was airing, Henderson was a happily married mother of four. But she was forever associated with her role as Carol Brady.

Williams confessed that he admired Henderson and said during an interview that he fantasized about being with her. He admitted that he once took her on a date to discuss their mutual interest in music. At the end of the date, he fulfilled his dream of planting a kiss on her cheek.

Henderson opened up about her supposed date with the younger Williams, which had almost ruined her reputation, as it looked like she had an affair with a teenage boy.

Williams once told a radio station, “From the time that I met her, I had a great affinity for her and then an attraction to her. She’s played so many different roles in my life as a mother, as a professional, as a mentor and she was inspiring to me as well.”

In her book “Life Is Not a Stage,” Henderson recalled the moment she went out with Williams, noting that she would have done it with any older children if they had asked as she saw herself as a mentor.

Florence noted she understood Williams was entering adulthood, and she did not want to discourage him by turning him down. She saw his request as innocent.

The duo was driven on the date by Williams’ brother since he was too young to drive at the time. Henderson explained that the night was purely innocent, including the goodnight kiss, which was blown out of proportion.

The late actor noted she was aware of Williams’ crush on her and played her part to help him get past it. After leaving the show, both stars remained friends and shared a good bond. Henderson remained loved as the beloved Carol Brady until she died in 2016 at age 82.

“She knew the respect that people had for her character,” Lloyd Schwartz, son of program creator, Sherwood Schwartz, said to Variety. “Whenever anybody came up to her to say anything about the show, she was as warm as could be–I saw it a million times.”