John Amos' 'Good Times' Costar BernNadette Stanis Offers Support Amid Elder Abuse Claims
BernNadette Stanis portrayed Thelma Evans the on-screen daughter of Florida and James Evans played by John Amos for three seasons in the 1970s. But, Friday (June 16), the actress spoke out to offer support to her on-screen dad and his real-life children who have been publicly battling over the 83-year-old actor's care.
"John knows I love him from the core of my heart," Stanis told PEOPLE. "His children were lovely and have always been lovely. It just happened so that when you have a parent that you have to take care of or they're aging, there's a lot of fear amongst the siblings because you don't know — it's the first time and maybe the only parent. It hurts."
On June 8, Amos' daughter Shannon shared on Instagram that she believed her father was in "bad shape" and may have been the victim of elder abuse. “The past two weeks shattered our world. My dad, a victim of elder abuse and financial exploitation. We are collaborating with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and local authorities, determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. Legal assistance is crucial to ensure their prosecution and protect my father's future. His home, stripped bare, necessitates a safe space for his return," she shared.
However, video has since emerged of Amos from a hospital bed accusing Shannon of abuse in a video shared by his son K.C. “She would be the primary suspect — if you would,” John claimed in the video filmed from his hospital bed. “I don’t know if that’s the right term to use or not. But she’s the one that I would attribute my elderly abuse to. It’s definitely a case of elderly abuse," Amos said. He also disavowed the GoFundMe that Shannon created and said that all funds would be returned.
Stanis says that she believes the incidents might be being misconstrued by the media and blown "a little out of proportion."
"So I think that sometimes things are said, and things are misunderstood because you're going through so much or they're going through stuff, so it hurts you," the 69-year-old actress said. "And I think a lot of times, siblings, you know, they may fight amongst themselves. Or they may not agree with what one sibling is doing over the other sibling."
She added that K.C. has been updating fans on his father's health via social media, adding, "John's happy to see it," Stanis told PEOPLE. "I don't understand the Shannon thing or what's going on with it, but she's the oldest and sometimes the oldest feels like they should be in control. But K.C. is the boy, so it could be a tug of war, a little bit like that."
"He's taking care of his children," she added. "And he has to understand that they're both sad that their parent is in the hospital. Sometimes feelings come up, and things are said that don't mean anything. Individuals hurting, you know. That's what I think is going on. I think everything will be settled."
