Summary
Kutcher and Kunis are clarifying their letters of support for Danny Masterson, claiming they were written from the perspective of a man they have known for 25 years. The couple acknowledge the pain caused by these letters and promise to support victims of sexual violence, saying they will never question the testimony of victims. Kutcher and Kunis apologize if their writing caused trauma and express compassion for all people who have been victims of sexual assault or violence.
While fans of the actors condemned their alleged defense of their co-star, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis clarified their letters asking for a reduced sentence in the rape case of That ’70s Show’s Danny Masterson. After rising to fame on the sitcom as rebel Hyde, Masterson suffered a career low in 2017 when three different women accused him of sexual assault, leading to his firing from the Netflix sitcom The Ranch and a lengthy trial that saw further allegations filed . rebelled against him. Masterson was ultimately found guilty of two of the three counts of violent rape against him and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in September 2023.
Just a day after it was reported that the two had come to Masterson’s defense, Kutcher and Kunis posted a video together on Instagram to clarify letters they wrote to the judge regarding their That ’70s Show co-star. The pair acknowledge the pain they have caused many of their fans, insisting they have always strived to “support victims” and noting they wrote them after Masterson and his family reached out to them to provide a photo of “the man we have” . has been known for 25 years.” Here’s what Kutcher and Kunis had to say in the quotes and video below:
Ashton Kutcher: We recognize the pain caused by the letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson.
Mila Kunis: We support the victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.
Kutcher: A couple of months ago, Danny and his family approached us and asked us to write character letters representing a man we’ve known for 25 years so that the judge could take that fully into account when sentencing.
Kunis: The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the justice system or the validity of the jury’s decision.
Kutcher: They were intended for the judge and were not intended to cast doubt on the victims’ testimony or bring it to the surface in any way. We would never want to do that. And we apologize if this happened.
Kunis: Our hearts go out to all people who have been victims of sexual assault, sexual assault or rape.
Will Kutcher and Kunis’ apology be enough for fans?
Kutcher and Kunis weren’t the only That ’70s Show co-stars to come to his defense: The actors who play Kitty and Red Forman, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, also vowed to portray him in a better light. The rest of the sitcom’s main cast – Topher Grace, Wilmer Valderrama and Laura Prepon – have remained silent on the matter, with many That ’70s Show fans praising the former after years of stories about his antisocial behavior circulating on set and criticizing the Kelso cast member and Jackie.
One of the main points of discussion both during Masterson’s trial and after his conviction was what the legacy of That ’70s Show would be now. Long considered a cult sitcom of the past few decades and often topping the Hulu and Netflix streaming charts, the series has become a comforting watch for many, alongside Seinfeld and Parks and Recreation, as well as others available on both streaming services .
That legacy and streaming success even prompted Netflix to team up with creators Bonnie and Terry Turner to develop a sequel to That ’90s Show, which earned moderate reviews and enough viewers to be renewed for a second season. Given that Kunis and Kutcher have reprized their roles alongside Grace, Valderrama and Prepon, among others, the backlash against the first two actors defending their That ’70s Show co-star could prove problematic for the future of the series if their apology goes through not enough. to win back fans of the series.