All eyes are again on the solid of That ‘70s Present — and Danny Masterson — as Netflix releases the sequel sequence, That ‘90s Present, that includes appearances by Laura Prepon, Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and Wilmer Valderrama.
Masterson, who performed Steven Hyde on the comedy sequence, which ran on Fox from 1998 to 2006, wasn’t requested again for the brand new present as he faces a second trial for sexual assault allegations.
The actor made headlines in March 2017 when 4 girls alleged Masterson had sexually assaulted them on separate events within the early 2000s. A fifth girl subsequently got here ahead.
“From day one, I’ve denied the outrageous allegations towards me. Regulation enforcement investigated these claims greater than 15 years in the past and decided them to be with out advantage,” he stated in an announcement on the time. “I’ve by no means been charged with a criminal offense, not to mention convicted of 1. On this nation, you might be presumed harmless till confirmed responsible. Nevertheless, within the present local weather, it appears as in case you are presumed responsible the second you might be accused.”
In June 2020, Masterson was charged with three counts of forcible rape, with Los Angeles County District Legal professional explaining on the time that two of the ladies’s circumstances had inadequate proof and statutes of limitations. He subsequently pleaded not responsible.
A trial started in October 2022. The next month, information broke {that a} decide declared a mistrial because the jury was unable to come back to a unanimous vote. Whereas Masterson’s workforce requested to dismiss the case in January 2023, a decide rejected the proposal and a date of March 29, 2023, was set for jury choice for a second trial.
“It seems there are a lot of different witnesses the Individuals might select to name or totally different arguments the Individuals might select to make,” Choose Charlaine Olmedo stated on the time. “A special final result at a retrial is a minimum of a chance.”
Masterson’s profession got here to a halt amid the accusations, with Netflix slicing ties with the actor amid manufacturing on season 3 of The Ranch — a present he appeared in alongside Kutcher — in December 2017. Grace, in the meantime, was the primary solid member to handle the scandal.
“, I hesitate to say that I by no means noticed any of that habits as a result of I really feel prefer it appears like I’m defending him, however the reality is I by no means noticed any of that stuff,” the actor who performed Eric Forman instructed The Hollywood Reporter in Could 2018. “I used to be, of that solid, essentially the most boring. So when it got here to going out after the present and partying, I simply was boring.”
When That ‘90s Present premiered in January 2023, Masterson’s Hyde was not talked about and excluded from a flashback scene pulled from the OG present. He was, nevertheless, supportive of the sequence when it was initially introduced in 2021.
“That is actually the dopest factor I’ve heard in a decade,” he wrote through Instagram earlier than praising Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who returned as Pink and Kitty, respectively, to be full-time solid members. “So f—king excited for @therealkurtwoodsmith and @debrajorupp two of the good people and best actors on this planet. Can’t wait to look at and snicker. Similar creators / writers / producers as 70s.”
Scroll via to seek out out which members of the That ‘70s Present solid have spoken out about Masterson:
