Danny Masterson has received favorable support from his famous That 70’s Show co-stars Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher, who reportedly requested leniency in Masterson’s rape cases.
As we reported, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday for two rapes that allegedly occurred over two decades ago, back when the hit show was poppin’. Now, the letters of support his co-stars gave before his conviction have been leaked to the public.
In his letter Kutcher, 45, only had positive things to say about the actor adding that he thought Masterson, 47, was a “role model.” He credits Masterson for steering him away from the perils of Hollywood life, including drugs.
“As a role model, Danny has consistently been an excellent one,” Kutcher wrote. “I attribute not falling into the typical Hollywood life of drugs directly to Danny.”
He went on to add that Danny was not the type of person to harm anyone and he has instead stepped in on multiple occasions to defend those in need. The letters were initially shared by Tony Ortega on his Substack.
RELATED: “That 70s Show” Actor Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years To Life For Rape Convictions
“He also set an extraordinary standard around how you treat other people. There was an incident where we were at a pizza parlor and a belligerent man entered who is berating his girlfriend. We had never met or seen these people before, but Danny was the first person to jump to the defense of this girl. It was an incident he didn’t have to get involved in but proactively chose to because the way this man was behaving was not right.
“He has always treated people with decency, equality, and generosity.”
“While I’m aware that the judgement 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.”
“I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society and having his daughter raised without a present father would a tertiary injustice in and of itself. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”
Ashton Kutcher letter to the court
Kutcher’s wife, and Masterson’s other co-star Mila Kunis also had positive words to write in his case,
“Danny has consistently displayed a profound sense of responsibility and care for those around him. He demonstrates grace and empathy in every situation, be it within the entertainment industry or in our personal lives. His steady support and understanding presence make him a reliable source of guidance and comfort for all of us,” Kunis’ letter read in part. “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.”
As we reported on Thursday the actor was convicted on his charges. Masterson was first arrested in June 2020 and charged with raping three women in separate incidents from 2001 and 2003. His first rape trial began in October 2022. However, it was declared a mistrial that November after the jury was unable to reach a final verdict on the three counts. Though a second jury was able to find Masterson guilty of two counts of rape, but didn’t reach a unanimous decision on a third count in a subsequent retrial in May 2023.
Prosecutors alleged that the actor used his influence in the Church of Scientology – where all three victims were also members at the time – to avoid consequences for decades after the alleged attacks. The women claimed that they were hesitant to come forward and alert the police because of the church. They testified that when they reported Masterson to Scientology officials, they were told they were not actually raped. Instead, they were put through ethics programs and even were warned against going to law enforcement to report a member of such high standing.
Danny will serve 15 years on each of the charges. His wide Bijou will now raise their daughter while Danny serves his time.