Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher say they are “aware” that letters from Danny Masterson caused pain
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher said they were aware of the pain caused by their character letters defending convicted rapist Danny Masterson and said their intention was not to re-traumatize the victims or undermine the verdict.
Kunis and Kutcher were among several actors from “That ’70s Show” who stood in for Masterson before he was sentenced Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two women at his home in the Hollywood Hills two decades ago.
“We support victims, we have done so in the past through our work and will continue to do so in the future,” Kunis, 40, said in an Instagram video with her husband on Saturday.
In letters submitted to the court, Kunis and Kutcher described Masterson as an “outstanding older brother figure,” a “committed and loyal” husband and an “outstanding” role model – a stark contrast to the predator who “drugged” defenseless people and raped”. woman his victims referred to him as.
“During our time together, Danny has proven to me to be a great friend, confidant and, most of all, an outstanding older brother,” Kunis wrote in her letter. “His caring nature and ability to give advice have contributed significantly to my personal and professional development.”
Kunis continued that Masterson’s role “as a husband and father to his daughter was nothing short of extraordinary.”
In his letter, Kutcher recalled a time when Masterson defended a woman who was being verbally abused by her boyfriend and described how he helped raise money for first responders who fell ill after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Kutcher also addressed the allegations against Masterson, writing that he hopes his “legacy to his character will be taken into account in sentencing.”
“I don’t believe he is doing any lasting harm to society, and that it would be a tertiary injustice in and of itself for his daughter to be raised without a father present,” the actor said.
Kutcher said Saturday that he and Kunis wrote the letters after Masterson’s family asked them to “characterize the person we knew for 25 years so that the judge could fully take that into account in sentencing.”
“The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the justice system or the validity of the jury’s decision,” Kunis said.
“They were intended for the judge to read,” Kutcher added. “And not to undermine the victims’ statements or re-traumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that. And we’re sorry if that happened.”
Masterson’s wife, Bijou Phillips, as well as “That ’70s Show” stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, Masterson’s brother-in-law, actor William Baldwin, and actor siblings Giovanni and Marissa Ribisi also wrote character letters on his behalf.
