An unsettling video of That '70s Show's Danny Masterson joking about having his genitals grabbed has gone viral in the aftermath of the actor's 30-year-to-life rape sentence.
After Masterson's sentencing was revealed on Thursday, a tape from a 2004 interview on Late Night With Conan O'Brien went viral online.
Masterson and host Conan O'Brien explore the Long Island-born actor's lack of a native accent in the video. Masterson, who has lived in Los Angeles for over a decade, explained that the accent "just goes away naturally, and then there are also certain words that there's nothing you can do about." To demonstrate his argument, Masterson stated that his friend, actor Bodhi Elfman, "always teases me, and he says, 'Hi, my name is Danny Masterson, would you like to touch my balls?"
"I've heard about you," O'Brien responded after a little pause. “And you'll be caught soon, I'm sure." Masterson replied, "I will." The video is gradually going viral after sentencing.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo of the Los Angeles County Superior Court sentenced Masterson to 15 years to life in prison on each count of rape, with the terms to be served consecutively. The punishment was the most that the law could allow. Masterson will be eligible for parole after spending 25.5 years, but he might be imprisoned for life.
In a statement, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said, "This has been a long and hard road for Mr. Masterson's victims. Not only did they survive his abuse, but they also made it through a system that is not always kind to victims."
Masterson's attorneys quickly announced their intention to appeal, citing "substantial" flaws in the trial.
Before issuing the former "That '70s Show" star's sentence, the judge heard impact statements from both victims on Thursday.
The video was revived, with social media users commenting on O'Brien's apparent foresight in light of Masterson's sentencing after being found guilty on two counts of rape in May. In June 2020, Masterson was charged with three charges of rape. In October 2022, the first trial ended in a mistrial, and the retrial in May resulted in convictions on two of the three counts.