Mila Kunis And Ashton Kutcher Say They 'Support The Victims' And Apologize For Danny Masterson Letters
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher say they 'support the victims' and are 'aware of the pain' their character letters defending convicted rapist Danny Masterson caused. They say their goal was not to re-traumatize the victims or change the decision.
Kunis and Kutcher were among the actors from "That '70s Show" who defended Masterson before he was sentenced to 30 years to life in jail on Thursday for sexually assaulting two women at his Hollywood Hills home 20 years ago.
Mila Kunis And Ashton Kutcher Say They 'Support The Victims'
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis say in a new Instagram video that they "support the victims" after it came out that they had asked for Danny Masterson's sentence to be less harsh.
COPYRIGHT_WI: Published on https://washingtonindependent.com/mila-kunis-and-ashton-kutcher-say-they-support-the-victims/ by William Willis on 2023-09-11T01:00:35.696Z
Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday after being found guilty of two counts of rape in May. He was on That '70s Show with the married pair. After the Fox sitcom finished in 2006, the couple stayed close with the actor. In 2016, Kutcher and Masterson starred together on the Netflix sitcom The Ranch.
“„We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson.- Ashton Kutcher
“„We support victims, we have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.- Mila Kunis
During the sentencing hearing, the three Jane Does in the case, including the two he was found guilty of raping and the third whose count was thrown out, gave emotional victim impact statements. The judge then decided that Masterson would serve two 15-year sentences back-to-back. He also needs to sign up as a sexual abuser.
Masterson's lawyer had said that it would be fair for him to serve 15 years for both counts at the same time. The defense team's sentencing report, which they got after the sentencing, showed that Kutcher and Kunis, who are married, were among the people who wrote letters in Masterson's favor and asked the judge to be easy on him. Both letters called him a "role model."
There was a lot of reaction online to the news, including from two of the Jane Does in the case. Jane Doe No. 2 said on social media on Friday that the two actors sent the letters "after they read all of the gruesome sworn-under-oath testimony" of the women.
“„The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury's ruling.- Mila Kunis
“„They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatise them in any way, we would never want to do that and we're sorry if that has taken place.- Ashton Kutcher
“„Our heart goes out to every single person who has ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape.- Mila Kunis
In his letter, Kutcher called the man who was convicted of rape a "dedicated and loyal" husband and father. He also talked about the charges that could end the 47-year-old's career.
“„While I'm aware that the judgment has been cast as guilty on two counts of rape by force and the victims have a great desire for justice, I hope that my testament to his character is taken into consideration in sentencing.- Ashton Kutcher
“„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.- Ashton Kutcher
Masterson was found guilty of two counts of forced rape by a jury in Los Angeles in May. This was after the first trial in November 2022 ended in a mistrial. The third count against Jane Doe No. 3 was ruled a mistrial and has since been dropped since officials said they would not try Masterson again on the rape charge.
Masterson was charged with three counts of felony rape by three women, one of whom was a past girlfriend. He pleaded not guilty. The killings were said to have happened between 2001 and 2003. At the time, "That '70s Show" was still on the air. Masterson was caught in 2020, and he said that each of the meetings had been agreed upon.
Masterson is also a member of the Church of Scientology, and so are the three women. All three women told police that they were at first afraid to talk to them because they thought church teachings told people not to talk to police. In the end, the women left the church.
Final Words
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher say they 'support victims' after they were criticized for writing character letters for Danny Masterson during his rape trial. In Masterson's case, character letters to the judge were made public, which showed that Kutcher and Kunis had asked the judge for a lighter sentence. In separate letters, the couple said that Masterson was a "role model" and a great father. They also said that he was a great father for stopping drug use on That '70s Show.
About The Authors
William Willis - William Willis is a freelance writer and social media manager who specializes in assisting finance professionals and Fintech entrepreneurs in growing their online audience and attracting more paying customers. William worked as a bank teller and virtual assistant for financial firms in the United States and the United Kingdom for six years before beginning her writing career. William is a strong force in the workplace, inspiring others to work hard and excel with his optimistic attitude and boundless energy. He enjoys hiking, crocheting, and playing video games with his children in his spare time.