The Internet Is Dragging Ashton Kutcher for His Latest Statement Regarding Danny Masterson
Warning: This post contains descriptions of sexual violence.
Ashton Kutcher seems to be doubling down on his support of his former That ’70s Show costar Danny Masterson, who was just sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping two women. Kutcher, along with his wife and fellow That ’70s Show alum Mila Kunis, were heavily criticized after their letters in support of Masterson leaked just ahead of his conviction. The couple quickly released a half-hearted apology video after they were called out not only by online fans, but fellow actors as well.
In a seeming effort to do some damage control, Kutcher followed up the apology video with a mass text sent out to his fans — many who didn’t even remember that they had signed up for his texts when he “leaked” his phone number back in 2019.
“A friend said something me today: We have one heart we can fill in with hatred or love. I chose love,” read the message from Kutcher. “I chose love.”
Many interpreted the texts as a reaffirmation of his support for Masterson and a dismissal of the serious allegations against him. This sparked immediate backlash, with social media platforms flooded with comments expressing disappointment and frustration towards Kutcher’s statement.
“Does anyone remember when Ashton Kutcher ‘leaked’ his phone number and you could get automated text messages from him?” asked one user on X, the platform formally known as Twitter. “Well I forgot I did that and today I decided to choose violence.” The user shared a screenshot of the texts along with the user’s response to Kutcher’s decision to “choose love”: “Well, I choose to believe victims and not support rapists.”
“That friend wasn’t Danny Masterson, was it?” asked another user on X. “The absolute audacity of ashton kutcher sending this text out…” reads another disappointed X post.
It’s important to note that while Kutcher may not actively see these responses, as he had been sending out mass texts since 2019 and hadn’t sent any since June of this year, per Us Weekly, the overwhelming criticism highlights Kutcher’s hypocritical stance. The actor and his wife are also heavily involved in Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, a company that builds tech to defend children from sexual trafficking and abuse, per People.
“Ashton Kutcher co-founding a campaign to end child trafficking but writing letters of support for his serial rapist bestie is such a great encapsulation of the way people love to fight against their imaginary idea of what abuse is but not what it actually is,” wrote another user on X.
On September 7, Masterson was sentenced 30 years-to-life for two rape charges. He was charged with raping three women from 2001 to 2003 in his Hollywood Hills home. The jury was deadlock on the third count. Kutcher’s continuous direct and indirect support of Masterson is infuriating at best and dangerous at worst, perpetuating the cycle of violence against victims and survivors of sexual assault.
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