Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis quit child sexual abuse organization amid Danny Masterson backlash

Ashton Kutcher is stepping down as chairman of the anti-child sex abuse organization Thorn, which he founded in 2009 with then-wife Demi Moore, amid backlash over his letter of support for now-convicted rapist Danny Masterson.

Mila Kunis, to whom Kutcher is now married and who also wrote a letter of support for Masterson, is also stepping down as an observer on the board. The couple starred with Masterson in It’s That ’70s Show between 1998 and 2005.

On September 8, the 47-year-old actor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for kidnapping two women two decades ago.

Kutcher, 45, announced his resignation in a letter to the board of directors on Thursday.

“After my wife and I spent several days listening, personally reflecting, learning and talking with survivors, as well as Thorn employees and management, I have decided that the responsible thing to do is for me to step down as chairman of the board, almost immediately. Kutcher wrote in a statement shared with Time magazine.

“I cannot allow my error in judgment to detract from our efforts and the children we serve.”

“Victims of sexual violence have historically been silenced, and the statement I have submitted is yet another painful example of the questioning of victims who are brave enough to share their experiences,” he added.

“The mission must always be a priority, and I want to sincerely apologize to all victims of sexual assault and everyone at Thorn who I have hurt through my actions.

“And to the broader human rights community, I am deeply sorry. I remain proud of what we have achieved over the past decade and will continue to support Thorne’s work. Thank you for your tireless advocacy and dedication to this cause.”

The news comes shortly after it was revealed that he and Kunis, 40, had written letters vouching for their former co-star’s “exceptional character” before his sentencing.

Kutcher called Masterson a “role model” and “someone who is always there for you when you need him.”

“While I know he was convicted of two counts of rape by force and the victims very much want justice, I hope that my testimony about his character will be taken into account when sentencing,” his letter said. .

“I do not believe that he is a permanent harm to society, and for his daughter to be raised without a current father would in itself be a tertiary injustice. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”

Meanwhile, in her letter, Kunis called Masterson “an amazing friend, confidant, and most of all, an incredible big brother to me.”

He was initially accused of drugging and kidnapping three women at his home between 2001 and 2003. He was found guilty of kidnapping two women in 2003, but a jury failed to reach a verdict on a third charge brought in November 2001. from an ex-girlfriend.

Last weekend, Kutcher and Kunis released an apology video highlighting the controversy.

“We recognize the pain caused by the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” Kutcher said.

“We support the victims. We have historically done this through our work and will continue to do so in the future,” he continued. “They were intended to be read by the judge, not to undermine the victims’ testimony or re-traumatize them in any way. We would never have wanted to do this and we are very sorry if this happened.”

The couple’s video also sparked backlash, with many questioning the wording of their apology.

Yellow JacketsChristina Ricci appeared to criticize Kutcher and Kunis, writing on Instagram: “Sometimes people we love and admire do terrible things. They may not have done those things to us and we only know who they were to us, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do terrible things and it is a crime to discredit those who were abused.

“Unfortunately, I knew a lot of “great guys” who were nice to me, but in private they turned out to be aggressors. I’ve also had personal experience with this. Believe the victims. It’s not easy to get ahead. It’s not easy to get a conviction.”

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your local rape crisis organization for specialist, independent and confidential support. For more information visit their website Here.