Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have released a video explaining why they asked a judge for leniency when sentencing their ex-partner for raping two women.
The Hollywood representatives also said they did not mean to “undermine the victims’ testimony” and apologized if they had “traumatized them again in any way.”
Danny Masterson, who starred alongside Kunis and Kutcher in That 70s Show, He was ordered to serve 30 years behind bars.
One victim described him as “pathetic, disturbed and completely violent.”
The messages appeared later Which reveals that former cast members, as well as siblings, have written letters in support of Masterson — with Kunis calling him a “role model” and Kutcher saying he is “devoted and loyal.”
In an Instagram video posted Saturday evening, Kutcher and Kunis took turns explaining why they were sending the messages.
“We recognize the pain caused by the personal letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” Kutcher said.
Kunis added: “We support victims, we have done so historically through our work and we will continue to do so in the future.”
This content is provided by Instagram, which may use cookies and other technology. In order to show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to adjust your preferences to enable Instagram cookies or only allow these cookies once. You can change your settings at any time via Privacy options.
Unfortunately, we were unable to verify whether you have approved this Instagram cookie. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Instagram cookies for this session only.
Enable cookies
Allow cookies once
Kutcher went on to say that Masterson’s family reached out to them and asked them to write “personal letters to represent the person we have known for 25 years.”
He added that this was so the judge could “take this into full account in relation to sentencing.”
Kunis then said: “The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s verdict.”
“It was intended for the judge to read it and not undermine the victims’ testimony or retraumatize them in any way,” Kutcher continued. “We would never want to do that and we are sorry if that happened.”
Kunis ended the video by saying: “Our hearts go out to every person who has been a victim of sexual assault, assault or rape.”
In his letter, Kutcher described the convicted rapist as a “devoted and loyal” husband and father, and addressed the career-ending accusations against the 47-year-old.
“Although I realize that the verdict has been entered as guilty of two counts of forcible rape and that the victims have a great desire for justice, I hope that my evidence of his character will be taken into account at sentencing,” he wrote.
“I do not believe that he represents an ongoing harm to society, and that raising his daughter without a present father would be a third injustice in and of itself.”
picture:
Danny Masterson in 2017. Pic: AP
Kutcher – who is married to Kunis – went on to claim that Masterson “was the first person to jump to defence” a girl he didn’t know after her warrior boyfriend berated her.
“Throughout our time together, Danny has proven to be a wonderful friend, confidant, and above all, an outstanding big brother figure to me,” Kunis wrote in her letter.
She went on to claim that Masterson played a “pivotal role” in guiding her away from drug abuse.
Masterson played Steven Hyde, Kunis played Jackie Burkhart, and Kutcher played Michael Kelso on the sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2006.
Loudspeaker
This content is provided by Speaker, which may use cookies and other technology. In order to show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to adjust your preferences to enable Speaker cookies or only allow these cookies once. You can change your settings at any time via Privacy options.
Unfortunately, we were unable to verify whether you have agreed to this Biscuit Speaker. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Megaphone cookies for this session only.
Enable cookies
Allow cookies once
Click to subscribe to Backstage wherever you get your podcasts
Masterson’s wife, Bijou Phillips, said in her letter to the judge that he was a “life-saving partner.”
“Our daughter and I are very sad because he is not with us at home,” she wrote. It’s been very difficult without him here. Even though he is now in prison, he calls her every day.”
The former actor’s legal team has vowed to appeal, and if unsuccessful, Masterson will not be eligible for parole until he retires.
During the trial, the women whose testimony led to his conviction said Masterson gave them drinks that made them feel dizzy in 2003, before knocking them unconscious and raping them.
