As Danny Masterson gears up for his second trial for sexual assault prices, his former That ‘70s Present and The Ranch costar Ashton Kutcher is addressing the controversy for the primary time.
“Finally, I can’t know. I’m not the decide. I’m not the jury. I’m not the DA. I’m not the sufferer. And I’m not the accused,” Kutcher, 44, instructed Esquire for its first-ever digital cowl story, revealed on Tuesday, January 31. “And so, in that case, I don’t have an area to remark. I simply don’t know.”
He added that he hopes Masterson will “be discovered harmless of the fees introduced towards him.”
Masterson, 46, was initially accused of sexual assault in March 2017. After denying the claims for years, he was charged in June 2020 with allegedly raping three girls and pleaded not responsible in January 2021.
Masterson’s trial started in October 2022. The next month, the jury was unable to come back to a unanimous vote, inflicting the decide to declare it a mistrial. Jury choice for the second trial is about to start in March.
The Two and a Half Males alum, for his half, has discovered it tough to observe his costar’s authorized battle play out. “Sometime, his child goes to examine this,” he stated in Tuesday’s cowl story, referring to Fianna, 8, whom Masterson shares with spouse Bijou Phillips. On the identical time, Kutcher can also be an advocate for victims of abuse. He cofounded Thorn: Digital Defenders of Kids — which goals to defend kids from on-line sexual abuse — in 2012.
“I wholesale really feel for anyone who seems like they have been violated in any method,” the Simply Married actor stated.
The outlet studies that Kutcher confirmed he’s nonetheless in contact with Masterson and speaks to Masterson’s brother “typically.”
Kutcher and Masterson have been each starring on Netflix’s The Ranch when 4 girls got here ahead with allegations towards the latter in 2017. The Males at Work alum was booted from the sitcom later that 12 months.
“On account of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch,” a spokesperson for the streaming firm instructed Us in a press release in December 2017. “[Monday] was his final day on the present, and manufacturing will resume in early 2018 with out him.”
Masterson reacted to the choice that very same month. “I’m clearly very upset in Netflix’s choice to put in writing my character off of The Ranch,” he stated in a press release to Us on the time. “From day one, I’ve denied the outrageous allegations towards me. Legislation enforcement investigated these claims greater than 15 years in the past and decided them to be with out advantage.”
Years later, Masterson was the one That ‘70s Present foremost forged member to not reprise his position on the present’s reboot, That ‘90s Present, which premiered earlier this month. Kutcher made an look on the teenager sitcom together with fellow OGs Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama and real-life spouse Mila Kunis. (Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith additionally returned as sequence regulars.)
On Tuesday, the Butterfly Impact star recalled how Masterson was the chief of the forged again when the unique interval teen sitcom was on the air.
“He’s like, ‘One f—king rule: Don’t do something f—king silly and f—okay this up. As a result of should you f—okay it up, you f—okay it up for everyone,’” he stated of the Sure Man actor’s recommendation for the group on the time.
