"We're aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson," Ashton Kutcher, 45, posted on his Instagram on Wednesday. The couple's response to the backlash over the letters they wrote to the judge in the case of convicted rapist Danny Masterson is now facing trolling from the public.
How Fans Reacted
Since the actors' letters were released, Twitter users have reacted with outrage online. One former supporter wrote on Kutcher's post, "I'm not a fan of cancel culture, but I make an exception for you two." Someone else added, "How the mighty have fallen." While comments on the Instagram post were turned off, Twitter users were quick to express their dismay over the "lawyered" response. The comment section on Kutcher's recent posts was filled with reviews of the letters, with many noting the actor's efforts to combat trafficking.
Fans were outraged by Ashton and Mila's complimentary descriptions of Danny, and immediately took to social media to condemn them - especially given that Ashton runs an organization centered around helping victims of child trafficking. Many questioned the sense of Masterson's friendship, accusing rape, and noted that it would be better to part ways with a friend if you learn they're a sexual predator. One person called the letters "a joke in the face of survivors." Others highlighted the irony that Kutcher is the co-founder, with his ex-wife Demi Moore, of an anti-human trafficking organization but refuses to cut ties with his friend, who's a convicted sexual predator.
Couple’s Apology
In their explanatory joint statement, Ashton and Mila said, "A few months ago, Danny's family reached out to us and asked us to write character letters to the judge to represent the person that we knew for 25 years so that he could take that into full consideration during sentencing." The couple supported their former "That 70s Show" castmate by making individual requests to the court, despite him being previously convicted of raping two women. Their co-stars Wilmer Valderrama and Laura Prepon, as well as their boss, That 70s Show creator Mark Brazill, also wrote letters to the judge that they hoped would affect sentencing.
Letters’ Context
The letters were first published by legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff. In them, Kutcher refers to Masterson as a "role model" and "extraordinarily honest," adding, "he is among many people that I would trust to be alone with my son and daughter," whom he shares with Kunis. Kunis's letter notes Masterson's "exceptional character" and "tremendous positive influence" on her.
Masterson was sentenced after two trials; the first ended in a mistrial with a deadlocked jury in November 2022. In the second trial, Masterson was sentenced for harassing two of the three women. All of Masterson's accusers were members of the Church of Scientology. Prosecutors contended that the organization helped cover up the allegations, which the church has denied.