Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis Wrote Letters in Support of Danny Masterson Ahead of Rape Sentencing; Kutcher Called Him a ‘Role Model’
Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis Wrote Letters in Support of Danny Masterson Ahead of Rape Sentencing; Kutcher Called Him a ‘Role Model’
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were two of more than 50 people who wrote to the judge in the Danny Masterson sexual assault trial to support the convicted actor ahead of his sentencing, per court do…
Ashton Kutcher wants to prevent and stop human trafficking so much so he mostly retired from acting to make a bigger impact against it. Yet he is okay with a rapist cause it's his "friend". Talk about a fuckin hypocrite. More proof that the famous and wealthy live by a different standard. No matter how good they seem.
More proof that the famous and wealthy live by a different standard. No matter how good they seem.
You don't need to be famous or wealthy to overlook or cover up the crimes of someone you know. It happens every day among people of every socioeconomic status, between friends and within families and businesses. In this case he isn't even trying to cover for him, just wrote a letter supporting him at his trial based on what he knows of the guy. I don't think it was in good taste, but also don't think it's worth shunning Ashton Kutcher over
I dunno. Seems like an incredibly fucked up thing to do when it comes to the severity of the crimes. At some point, you turn your back on someone and don’t support them because what they did is beyond the pale. It’s all about context. Being a rapist doesn’t have any context in which I could support you.
Stealing from a store? I got your back. You killed the person that murdered your family? I’ll help you bury the body. You raped women? Get fucked, dickhead. You’re not who I thought you were and you don’t deserve me by your side.
Any friend that rapes is no friend of mine, IDGAF how long I've known you or what we've been through
I could say the same about Nazis, pedereasses, etc - some things are way bigger than friendship
Didn't Kutcher kick Masterson off his show, "The Ranch", when he found out about the allegations?
I don't know what's going though any of their minds and I don't know much about the case, but writing letters for your former friend that's a piece of shit is common. 30 years is a very long time. Longer than Cosby got. So it couldn't be good. But I wonder what the details are before I immediately jump to "most of the cast are assholes by association". Also, did no one know about this during the show? Mila even had to stage kiss and hug the guy when their characters were dating.
I get asking for mercy for family or a close friend, even when they’ve committed crimes, heinous or otherwise. I’ll chalk that up to human emotions.
But ffs, read the room a bit.
His dedication to leading a drug-free life and the genuine care he extends to others make him an outstanding role model and friend.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Danny’s character is his unwavering commitment to discouraging the use of drugs.
His dedication to avoiding all substances has inspired not only me but also countless others in our circle. Danny’s steadfastness in promoting a drug-free lifestyle has been a guiding light in my journey through the entertainment world and has helped me prioritize my well-being and focus on make responsible choices.
Saying stuff like that when he’s convicted of drugging victims before taping them is just nuts. Even by some sense of stupidity you think you’re just trying to highlight that he’s not a habitual drug user, you’re essentially just highlighting how calculated his actions were by drugging his victims.
Also, in what manner would personal drug use have anything to do with him being a rapist? Their attempted defense is irrelevant.
I commented elsewhere that I wondered if they believe he’s innocent. If they truly believe this is a miscarriage of justice could these letters be written with his appeal in mind? There’s no physical evidence as I understand, maybe they’re going for the “this guy is so sober he wouldn’t even know how to get drugs” angle? I’m just talking out of my arse now but I’m so confused by the level of support for him I can’t help but clutch at straws to try to explain it.
It's not a defense, it's just a character statement to be taken into account in sentencing. I too think Kutcher shouldn't have written it, but it's not any kind of defense of the charges
Yeah, he would've been a better person if he did more drugs and less raping.
I didn't read the rest of the letter, the paragraphs expressing nondrug use sounded exactly like it needed this to be pointed out. What a silly bar anyway, did you use drugs or not. Then to hear he used them on his victims...these letters are just clueless.
So ... what they're saying is that he was stone cold sober when he was drugging his victims? That's not a great look.
a look of an opportunistic predator.
People who preach often about not doing the minor vices, are usually engaged in some heinous shit; the preaching bit is a cover both lying to others and most importantly themselves
Pretty sure the drug free commitment is from his Scientologist handlers.
Masterson was born to rich socialites and insulated from consequences his whole life. Fuck that shithead.
so let me get this straight, danny would get drugs and instead of using it himself, he used it on unsuspecting victims and then taped himself raping them. and this has been a "a guiding light in (ashtons) journey"... "of making responsible choices"...? what.the.fuck?!
At this point it's basically telling on yourself (if it isn't skeletons in his own closet, at bare minimum it's saying he's a piece of shit who openly supports a rapist. A convicted one at that).
But he didn’t do the drugs! /s
Probably a bit of, "I can't believe my friend would do these bad things." People close to someone are harder to convince without seeing things first hand or hearing from other people they are close to.
Everyone is losing their minds about this. And they are right to.
But also?
This is incredibly common in court cases. These kinds of letters can make a huge difference during sentencing. To put it in context, a cousin got arrested for going on a burglary spree. Nothing violent but he was a real piece of shit. He and his lawyer basically asked everyone he had ever had a positive interaction with to write letters. I tentatively agreed because of his mother but they sent my letter back because I wasn't advocating strong enough. Because if you think someone "deserves" the minimum sentence? You ask for them to be (not the right word but) exonerated. And so forth.
Similarly, we were asked to write these months before the trial actually began. They didn't end up using my letter, but they requested the people whose letters they were going to use to attend the trial and they pretended it was written between conviction and sentencing. When you have no defense whatsoever, you do what you can to try and get leniency.
Personally? I think enough of this was "known" for the past few decades that I think anyone who would write a letter for masterson (aside from maybe his family of deranged cultists) are right assholes (they are assholes for different reasons). But I would take the "they wrote these after hearing the testimony of the victims" with a grain of salt. Same with the strength of what they are asking for. Doesn't make it right, but is still good to have context. Especially in the case of celebrities, there are good odds they had their publicists write these when they were asked a few years back and forgot about them.
And I'll just add on. scientology has lost a LOT of its power over the past decade or so and is basically held up by the will of tom cruise running around on camera. But they still have a LOT of influence in hollywood and masterson and his family have already been known to shitlist people who cross them (including apparently their own father?). I doubt anyone in the core cast and crew would need to worry about that at this point, but I can definitely see some of the names on the list being in that space of "Well, I either write a letter or don't work for a decade". Doesn't stop them from being an asshole, but does impact how much of an asshole they are (irony!).
Your experience and insight are incredibly valuable here. Thank you.
Both Kutcher and Kunis wrote about Masterson’s drug-free lifestyle, and noted he was a positive force on their lives. During the trial, prosecutors said Masterson drugged women before sexually assaulting them.
Such a long and glowing article for a man who drugged women to rape them. Including the positive quotes from his friends made sense, but a bit more perspective was needed than the few sentences discussing his crimes.
I wondered if it was a “presented without comment” kinda thing? Shade on everyone without explicit condemnation? Maybe the writer was told to write a sympathetic piece and just couldn’t bring themselves to? The more I type the more wishful I realise this thinking is… 😕
I don't see Variety as the pinacle of journalism whatsoever.
When did they write the letters? Was it before any of the details of the case had been made public or after? Were they personally written or did PR firms send them out as a matter of course? I don't really give a shit about celebrities or their personal lives and I'm all for a good old fashioned internet pile on, but for some reason I'd like to know the details first.
After he was found guilty, before he was sentenced
Masterson had been facing 30 years to life, which is the maximum sentence allowed by law. His defense was asking for 15 years to life, so those who wrote letters to the judge were likely aware he would be getting at least 15 years in prison.
Idunno. If my best friend was facing between 15 and 30 years in prison for multiple rapes, I don't think I would be begging the judge to reduce his sentence because he's such a good guy aside from the raping
Also he's a scientologist, so fuck him
Imagine giving a fuck about celebrities or their affairs.
Hope all the victims get every last cent of their recovery processes paid for on top of the prison sentencings
I don’t personally believe in long prison sentences because I know the American judicial system isn’t at all about rehab but I’m also a cis dude who generally doesn’t have to worry about getting raped so I’m not gonna make that call for people who gotta worry about that
But, y’know, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock was just beyond the pale for Kunis. Gotcha.
Definitely the wrong thing to do, but also something that could be dealt with with a financial penalty and a sincere apology. When Masterson isn't even admitting to his crimes, celebrities advocating for him is akin to what Will Smith did, using a position of privilege against the victims.
Rape is OK as long as it's not sex trafficking.
-Ashton Kutcher, probably
... trafficking.
This is why letters of character should not be considered in a court of law.
Idunno, it shows me that Kutcher and Kunis are awful people. I'd rather know that so I can avoid giving them money in the future
Luckily it didn't seem to affect the verdict too much, he got 30 years.
The article states 50 others wrote in support of this rapist. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
“Other stars from “The 70’s Show” who wrote to the judge include Debra Jo Rupp, who played Kitty on the sitcom, and Kurtwood Smith, who played Red. Masterson’s famous family members wrote letters in his support, including his siblings Alanna Masterson (“The Walking Dead”), Christopher Masterson (“Malcolm In the Middle”), Jordan Masterson (“Last Man Standing”), as well as his brother-in-law Billy Baldwin and his wife, the actor and model, Bijou Phillips. Other Hollywood names who wrote to the judge include actor Giovanni Ribisi; Jim Patterson, creator of Netflix’s “The Ranch;” Masterson’s former publicist, Jenni Weinman; and TV director, David Trainer, who worked on “The 70’s Show” and “The Ranch.””
Whelp, whole list of people who can get fucked and whose work I will not be patronizing.
The only person in that show I had any respect for as an actor was Kurtwood Smith.
So much for that.
Interesting that it doesnt say if Topher Grace (who played Eric in that 70s show) or Laura Perpon (who played Donna) wrote in support of Masterson. Either the article left it out for brevity or they didnt write in support because they dont support Masterson. Would be interested to see what the situation is there
I'm glad Jim Gaffigan doesn't appear to be on that list.
Permanently Deleted
I'll sum up my feelings about this in four words.
Who gives a shit?
Here are four more:
Celebrity 👏 gossip 👏 isn't 👏 news 👏.
i lost any kind of respect i had for mila and ashton.
What does Scientology have on these two? Yuck.
Are they Scientologists too? I didn’t know that. It could explain why they’re publicly supporting him I guess.
Not to my knowledge. (Didn't look it up, but thought it was him and Laura Prepon that were. And she might have left, not sure.) Just was referring to how Scientology has a history of blackmail.
RIP Trent the teetotaler. He may have touched those kids, parents, grandparents, pets, and all of their toothbrushes, but he never touched a bottle. He will be missed.
Does anyone have a good link about what/how Mastersn did? Usually these things are really gross and most people don't know how gross he actually is
Really fuckin weird.
They also added that their exclusive NFTs were on sale for all of Labor Day Weekend!
Hollywood and those involved in the movie industry are a bunch of self righteous weirdos.
They still care for him. He’s going to jail for his crimes, does his family have to reject him too?
Hey you know how you have that one friend who drugged and raped women? No? Me neither.
I can't think of any person in my life that I wouldn't cut off if I learned they were a rapist.
Yeah, you just don't stay friends with someone if you found that out about them. People that say you should have your friends backs no matter what are just insane.
No, but I have to say I’m surprised by the non-family members writing letters of character after he had been convicted of forcible rape. It’s one thing if it’s family I guess, or if the accused had been in the throes of addiction or similar at the time and had changed. But these are people who were working with him at the time he committed these crimes and they’re all testifying about him being such a good example of sobre living and a positive influence. Do they not feel betrayed by him? Do they not believe he did it? It’s strange.
I have to imagine it’s a very difficult thing to cope with; learning something like that about a very close friend. It has to really mess with you. And I can understand the human instinct to want to defend them regardless of your moral standards.
I personally don’t think this goes to show any moral failing on their part. Or at worst, whatever moral failing may be present is mostly due in part to a natural human reaction to complex emotions better dealt with in therapy. As such, I think these two should be afforded a bit of leeway.
Yes, at least I would and did in the same situation, except they were actual family. They're both POS rape apologists.
My family beat and outcast a member who turned out to be a predator. Fuck him, he's dead now. Didn't shed a tear.
simple explanation, which in no way absolves these two from the choice they made in coming to the defense and support of a convicted rapist: family is family
Which is an explanation and that explanation, where you'd defend "family" even when they did do something wrong, if not horrific, rather than say they should face the consequences of their choices.
And that sort of defense is one where the person making it is just as evil as the person they're defending.
A comment I made elsewhere is even more relevant here:
My family beat and outcast a member who turned out to be a predator. Fuck him, he's dead now. Didn't shed a tear.
Blood is irrelevant and the family you choose is stronger.