Tim Allen is rooting for his “Home Improvement” co-star Zachary Ty Bryan, despite the former child actor’s recent legal troubles.
Allen opened up about Bryan, who played his son Brad Taylor on the family sitcom from 1991-1999, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Thursday. Bryan, who was arrested on domestic violence charges in 2020, is also being accused of stealing money through an alleged cryptocurrency scheme.
“I don’t know what’s going on with him,” Allen told THR, calling Bryan “a great kid who has grown into a complex man.”
He continued, “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.”
Four individuals who spoke to THR claim Bryan stole their money – ranging in amounts from $5,000 to $25,000 – through a fraudulent scheme associated with the agriculture-technology startup Producers Market, who brought Bryan on as an adviser at one point. Bryan’s accusers alleged he carried out the fraud through the use of fake contracts.
“This was not me running some shady scam deal or something — that’s just not me,” Bryan told THR. “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.”
While speaking to THR, Bryan also reflected on his domestic violence arrest. In October 2020, Bryan was arrested in Oregon after a reported physical dispute in which he allegedly assaulted the victim, impeded her breathing and took her phone away when she tried to call 911. In February 2021, Bryan pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of menacing and assault in the fourth degree constituting domestic violence (six other charges related to the dispute were dismissed).
Bryan said his arrest was “blown out of proportion” thanks to media coverage and downplayed the severity of the altercation, which he said took place with Johnnie Faye Cartwright, a woman he was seeing at the time.
“We didn’t even really get that physical. We got really loud,” Bryan said. “We were screaming and because we were in a townhome that had (thin walls), everybody could hear. … At the end of the day, (the police) throw a bunch of counts at you because they ultimately want you to plead to something.”
Background:‘Home Improvement’ actor Zachery Ty Bryan arrested for allegedly assaulting girlfriend
Bryan added that he’s grateful for what the legal episode taught him. “I went through a situation that I’m sure plenty of people across the globe experience with their partners, and that was a learning experience,” he said.
Allen said while he doesn’t “know what happens when people get corrupted,” he has faith in Bryan’s character.
“I know Zach’s heart,” Allen said. “He’s got to figure out his own way.”
Zachery Ty Bryan:‘Home Improvement’ star convicted on two counts in domestic violence case
Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY; Staff and wire reports
