Canceled? Find Out The Fate Of 'Deadliest Catch' After Sig Hansen Sex Abuse Claims
After sex abuse claims against Deadliest Catch star Sig Hansen surfaced this week, fans have questioned the hit reality show's fate.
But the series' network, Discovery Channel, insists the show must go on.
"A court reviewed the facts 25 years ago and found there was no merit to the allegations," a rep for Discovery Channel told RadarOnline.com. "Out of respect for the family and all those involved, we will refrain from commenting any further. This does not impact the show."
The show returns for its 13th season on April 11.
As RadarOnline.com extensively reported, Hansen's estranged daughter Melissa Eckstrom, 28, accused him in a shocking new lawsuit of sexually abusing her during multiple incidents when she was just 2 years old.
According to police reports and medical files exclusively obtained by RadarOnline.com, the toddler claimed "Daddy put his finger in my potty pot" and "Daddy hurt my butt."
A physician claimed Eckstrom showed signs "strongly suggestive of sexual abuse," and a therapist said there was "no question" in her mind that the little girl had been victimized.
Lawsuit documents even featured an eerie childhood drawing from Eckstrom appearing to demonstrate inappropriate behavior.
Hansen has vehemently denied Eckstrom's damning accusations.
"I'm a pretty plain-spoken guy, and to me, this is nothing more than a shakedown," he told RadarOnline.com in a statement. "The allegations are completely false, rehashed lies my ex-wife Lisa Eckstrom used nearly 30 years ago to take away my daughter, and has continued to try to use to extort money from me."
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"The fact is, decades ago I was exonerated of these allegations after a full court trial. My ex-wife Lisa took me – and worst of all, my parents – to court for this back in 1990, making these baseless claims. We were fully exonerated after a prosecuting attorney, a judge, court-appointed experts, a guardian ad litem and team of other child experts all agreed that these claims were pure fiction. I cooperated 100 percent, including taking a polygraph test that also confirmed my innocence."
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