In May 2023, actor Danny Masterson was found guilty of the r*pe of two women in two separate incidents in 2001 and 2003 at his Hollywood Hills home. Masterson was also charged in a third case for the r*pe of his longtime girlfriend at the time, but the jury could not reach a verdict in this case. All three women met the actor through the Church of Scientology.
On September 7, 2023, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the case that began as a s*xual misconduct allegation in 2017. Masterson’s co-stars from That 70’s Show, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, came in support of the actor after he was found guilty.
Ashton Kutcher And Mila Kunis Wrote To The Judge In Support Of Danny Masterson
Earlier, when Danny Masterson was found guilty of the r*pes, people close to the 47-year-old actor likely knew he was going to jail for a long time, probably 15 to 30 years. More than 50 people wrote letters to the LA County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo, in support of the Men at Work actor.
This included his former co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. The star couple were not however pleading for freeing Masterson, but the letters were to be taken into consideration while sentencing the Cybill actor. Eventually, the letters did not help Masterson’s case as he was sentenced to a maximum jail time.
Masterson was also co-starring with Kutcher in The Ranch as two brothers who run a Colorado cattle ranch. After the allegations surfaced, the Easy actor was fired and his character Rooster Bennett was written out of the show. When asked about Masterson’s case, the Jobs actor refused to make any comments.
What Did The Letters Say About Danny Masterson?
Both Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis made statements about Danny Masterson’s personality as they knew it. Kutcher acknowledged the guilty verdict and added that the letter should be taken into consideration in sentencing as a testament to his character. Kutcher’s letter focused on Masterson’s fatherly duties to his 10-year-old daughter. The letters to the judge were obtained by journalist Tony Ortega, in which the Killers actor wrote:
“I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society and having his daughter raised without a present father would [be] a tertiary injustice in and of itself. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”
Kunis went on to call the convicted actor a role model, explaining the positive influence Masterson had on her life. Mila Kunis’s letter, as taken from Ortega’s site, states:
“I wholeheartedly vouch for Danny Masterson’s exceptional character and the tremendous positive influence he has had on me and the people around him. His dedication to leading a drug-free life and the genuine care he extends to others make him an outstanding role model and friend.”
Masterson’s siblings Alanna Masterson, Christopher Masterson, and Jordan Masterson as well as his wife Bijou Philips and brother-in-law Billy Baldwin were those among the 50+ people who wrote letters to the judge. His other co-stars from That 70’s Show, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith (Kitty and Red) also wrote letters with good words about Masterson.
Source: Tony Ortega
