Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis launched a video over the weekend apologizing for letters they wrote in help of rapist Danny Masterson, however resurfaced clips of Kutcher and Masterson making inappropriate feedback about underage women — together with Kunis — have resulted in additional backlash and questioning of Kutcher’s integrity.
Kutcher and Kunis, now 45 and 40, respectively, made headlines late final week when it was revealed they wrote letters of help for Masterson, asking the presiding choose for leniency whereas figuring out sentencing for Masterson, who was discovered responsible of two counts of rape.
The co-stars, who at the moment are married, have been as soon as predominant characters on That ’70s Present alongside Masterson. Their letters vouched for Masterson’s “distinctive character.”
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis wrote letters of help, asking for the choose’s leniency in Danny Masterson’s sentencing.
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“I don’t consider he’s an ongoing hurt to society,” Kutcher wrote, whereas Kunis described Masterson as an “excellent position mannequin and pal.”
Outrage over the letters ensued, prompting the couple to share a video to Instagram Sunday the place Kutcher defined that Masterson’s household had requested them to jot down character letters detailing “the person who we knew for 25 years in order that the choose may take that into full consideration relative to the sentencing.”
“The letters weren’t written to query the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling,” Kunis mentioned.
The video, meant to mood outrage directed on the couple, solely served to gas the fireplace, and additional footage from interviews performed throughout their time on That ’70s Present has resulted in full-on outrage.
A 2003 clip of Kutcher, then 25, speaking about an underage Hilary Duff and the Olsen twins, was surfaced by certainly one of Masterson’s accusers and ex-girlfriends, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, and shared broadly on social media.
Talking of Duff, who was 15 on the time, Kutcher mentioned, “She’s one of many women that we’re all ready for to show 18.”
“Together with the Olsen twins,” Kutcher continued, referring to baby actors Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
One other clip from 2002, during which Kutcher and Kunis focus on enjoying couple Michael Kelso and Jackie Burkhart on That ’70s Present with host Rosie O’Donnell, reveals that Masterson supplied to pay Kutcher $20 if he French-kissed a 14-year-old Kunis throughout a scene.
“I by no means kissed a man. And you recognize, Ashton is engaging and I used to be a 14-year-old little lady, and I used to be extraordinarily scared for my life,” Kunis mentioned.
“Then Danny goes, ‘Dude, I’ll provide you with $10 when you French kiss her,’” Kunis continued earlier than being interrupted by Kutcher, revealing that Masterson had truly guess $20 that he wouldn’t do it.
“After which the cops confirmed up, and you bought arrested,” O’Donnell mentioned.
“They need to have, however they didn’t,” Kutcher responds.
One other clip resurfaced by Bixler captured a teenage Kunis sitting on Kutcher’s lap in a promo video for the sitcom.
“And it feels good! And I prefer it lots!” he mentioned whereas laughing and grabbing at his future spouse.
And one other uncomfortable trade, this time between Masterson and Conan O’Brien in 2004, was additionally dropped at mild the place, throughout a racy dialog, the discuss present host eerily predicted Masterson’s future.
“I’ve heard about you,” Conan replied as the 2 bantered, “and also you’ll be caught quickly.”
“I do know you’ll,” he added.
Bixler slammed the couple in a separate Instagram Story on Saturday.
“In my view, you’re simply as sick as your ‘mentor,’” Bixler wrote of Kutcher in her put up.
Final week, Masterson was sentenced to serve 30 years to life in jail for 2 counts of forcible rape.
Throughout a retrial in Could, Masterson, 47, was discovered responsible on two out of three counts of rape that occurred between 2001 and 2003. Jurors couldn’t attain a unanimous verdict on the third rely, which alleged Masterson had raped a longtime girlfriend.
Masterson pleaded not responsible to the costs of rape towards him. The retrial was referred to as after final yr’s authentic trial on the identical three counts led to a mistrial when a jury deadlocked, failing to succeed in unanimous verdicts.
In line with stories, greater than 50 folks wrote statements of help to Decide Charlaine Olmeda, together with That ’70s Present co-stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith.
Through the second trial this yr, deputy district lawyer Reinhold Mueller and his group tried to color Masterson as a serial rapist who has been protected by high-ranking officers within the Church of Scientology. They claimed Masterson, on separate events, put medicine into the drinks of a longtime girlfriend and two different girls he knew by way of the church earlier than he raped them.
Masterson didn’t face any drug-related costs. Nonetheless, two of his attorneys confronted monetary sanctions after they leaked delicate trial details about Masterson’s accusers to the Church of Scientology.
“Mr. Masterson, you aren’t the sufferer right here. Your actions 20 years in the past took away one other particular person’s alternative and voice. Your actions 20 years in the past right this moment have been legal, and that’s why you’re right here,” Olmedo mentioned whereas handing down Masterson’s sentence.
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If you happen to or somebody you recognize is experiencing abuse or is concerned in an abusive state of affairs, please go to the Canadian Useful resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They’re additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
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