Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have come to the defense of their former That ’70s Show co-star Danny Masterson, who was just sentenced to 30 years-to-life in prison for the rapes of two women. The couple are two of reportedly over 50 people who wrote letters of support to Masterson after he was found guilty in May of two counts of forcible rape and an additional count of deadlocking.
The letters were sent to Judge Charlaine Olmedo and shared publicly via reporter Tony Ortega’s newsletter. In his, Kutcher praised Masterson for setting “an extraordinary standard” for treating others. “There was an incident where we were at a pizza parlor and a belligerent man entered who is berating his girlfriend,” Kutcher recalls. “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.”
He continued: “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.”
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Kunis’ letter reads, in part: “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.”
She concluded: “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.”
Fellow That ’70s Show stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith — who played Kitty and Red Foreman, respectively — also wrote letters on behalf of Masterson; Rupp described him as “well-liked and very respected” on set, while Smith claimed that Masterson “treated all women on the show with respect.” Read those letters here.
Earlier this year, Netflix premiered the first season of the reboot series That ’90s Show. Masterson was the only main cast member not to return.
