Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher said they are “aware of the pain” they have character letters defending rapist Danny Masterson caused, stating that his intention was not to re-traumatize the victims or undermine the verdict.
Kunis and Kutcher were among several “That ’70s Show” actors who went to bat for Masterson before he did. sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison for life for sexually assaulting two women in his Hollywood Hills home two decades ago.
“We support victims, we have historically done so through our work and we will continue to do so in the future,” Kunis, 40, said in an Instagram video Saturday with her husband.
In letters to the court, Kunis and Kutcher described Masterson as an “outstanding big brother figure,” a “dedicated and loyal” husband and an “excellent role model,” a stark contrast to the predator who “drugged and raped” a defenseless woman that his victims labeled him as.
“During our time together, Danny has proven to be an incredible friend, confidant, and most of all, an outstanding big brother figure to me,” Kunis wrote in her letter. “His caring nature and ability to provide guidance have been instrumental in my growth both personally and professionally.”
Kunis went on to say that Masterson’s role “as a husband and father to her daughter has been nothing short of extraordinary.”
In his letter, Kutcher recalled a time when Masterson stood up for a woman who was being scolded by her boyfriend and described how he helped raise money for first responders after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Kutcher also addressed the allegations against Masterson, writing that he hoped his “testament to his character would be considered in sentencing.”
“I don’t think it’s a constant detriment to society and for his daughter to grow up without a current father would be a tertiary injustice in itself,” the actor said.
Kutcher said Saturday that he and Kunis wrote the letters after Masterson’s family asked them to characterize “the person we knew for 25 years so the judge could take that into consideration in sentencing.”
“The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the court system or the validity of the jury’s decision,” Kunis said.
“They were meant to be read by the judge,” Kutcher added. “And not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that. And we’re sorry if that happened.”
Masterson’s wife Bijou Phillips, as well as “That ’70s Show” stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, Masterson’s brother-in-law actor William Baldwin and actor siblings Giovanni and Marissa Ribisi also wrote letters of characters on his behalf. .
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