September 7, 2023: Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for raping 3 women.
Same day: Letters from Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis to judge leaked to public.
The letters: Called rapist "role model," "first person I called when I was upset," asked for "leniency."
The backlash: Victims felt betrayed, public outraged, charity work questioned.
The lesson: How Hollywood's loyalty culture protects predators—even after conviction.
The Background
The Friendship (1998-2023)
How they met: That '70s Show (1998)
Characters: Ashton (Kelso), Mila (Jackie), Danny (Hyde)
Bond: 25 years of friendship
Like family: Cast was extremely close
Ashton and Mila: Eventually married (2015)
Danny and Ashton: Best friends for decades
Danny Masterson's Crimes
Accusations: Rape of 3 women (2001-2003)
Pattern: Drugged drinks, assaulted while incapacitated
Victims: All former girlfriends, all Scientology members
Scientology connection: Victims claimed church silenced them
LAPD investigation: 2016-2020
Charges filed: June 2020 (3 counts of rape)
The Trial (2022-2023)
First trial: November 2022, mistrial (hung jury)
Second trial: May 2023
Verdict: Guilty on 2 of 3 counts
Each count: 15 years to life
Sentence: 30 years to life (consecutive)
Victims' testimony: Brutal, detailed, traumatizing
The evidence: Overwhelming
September 7, 2023: The Letters
Ashton Kutcher's Letter
Submitted: Before sentencing
Purpose: Request leniency
Key quotes:
"Danny has been nothing but a positive influence on me."
"His commitment to a life of sobriety and the importance of that choice."
"He's not just a role model to me—he's a role model to many."
"I am asking you to consider this when determining sentencing."
Signature: "Ashton Kutcher"
Length: Full page
Tone: Glowing praise for convicted rapist
Mila Kunis's Letter
Submitted: Same time
Purpose: Also request leniency
Key quotes:
"Danny is the first person I call when I'm in trouble."
"He's the one who would pick up the phone at 3 am if I needed him."
"I have never seen him be violent or angry."
"He's a wonderful father and husband."
Signature: "Mila Kunis"
Tone: Heartfelt defense of convicted rapist
Other Letters
Total letters: 50+ supporting Masterson
Other celebrities: None as prominent
Pattern: Focused on HIS character, ignored victims
The omission: No acknowledgment of victims' suffering
The Immediate Backlash
Victim Response
One victim's statement: "Rape is not a mistake. A mistake is locking your keys in your car."
Victims felt: Betrayed, minimized, silenced again
The pain: After years of fighting for justice
The message: Celebrity matters more than victims
Public Outrage
Social media: Immediate firestorm
#AshtonKutcher and #MilaKunis: Trending
Comments:
- "So their friend is more important than rape victims?"
- "Delete the apology video and mean it"
- "This is why victims don't come forward"
Their charity work: Questioned
Thorn (Ashton's anti-trafficking org): "How can you fight exploitation while supporting a rapist?"
The Contradiction
Ashton's work: Founded Thorn (fights child sexual abuse)
Testified: Before Congress about exploitation
Image: Anti-abuse advocate
Reality: Wrote letter supporting convicted rapist
The disconnect: Impossible to reconcile
September 9, 2023: The Apology Video
The Instagram Post
Format: Couple sitting together, filmed apology
Length: ~2 minutes
Tone: Tearful, apologetic, defensive
Views: Millions
What They Said
Ashton: "We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future."
"The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury's ruling."
Mila: "We were asked to write character letters... The letters were not intended to undermine the testimony of the victims."
Both: "We are sorry."
What Was Missing
No statement: About believing victims
No acknowledgment: Of the pain they caused
No explanation: Why they valued friendship over victims
The focus: On THEIR intentions, not impact
The problem: Still centering themselves
The Response to Apology
Public: Mostly rejected it
Criticism:
- "Tears don't fix this"
- "You knew what you were doing"
- "Sorry you got caught"
Defenders: Some accepted apology
Overall: Didn't repair damage
The Fallout
Charity Impact
Thorn board position: Ashton resigned (September 2023)
His statement: "I cannot let my personal mistakes distract from their mission"
The org: Distanced themselves
Donations: Some people stopped supporting
Legacy: Tarnished
Career Impact
Immediate work: No cancellations
That '90s Show: Both had guest appearances, continued
Long-term: Reputation damaged
Industry response: Largely silent
Hollywood: Didn't really punish them
The Double Standard
Masterson: 30 years in prison
Ashton/Mila: Resigned from charity, kept working
The pattern: Celebrities protect each other
Consequences: Minimal for enablers
The message: Troubling
The Larger Problem
Celebrity Loyalty Culture
The pattern: Stand by friends no matter what
The excuse: "I only know my experience"
The blind spot: Trauma happens in private
The danger: Predators hide in plain sight
The enablement: Loyalty letters normalize crimes
Character Letters in Rape Cases
Purpose: Supposed to show whole person
Reality: Often minimize crimes
Judge's reaction: Usually doesn't change sentence
Victim impact: Devastating
The question: Should friends write letters for rapists?
The Scientology Connection
Masterson: Lifelong Scientologist
Victims: Former Scientologists who were silenced by church
The pattern: Institution protects members
Ashton/Mila: Not Scientologists but enabled same pattern
The parallel: Loyalty over justice
What They Should Have Done
Option 1: Say Nothing
Refuse: To write letter
Explanation: "I can't in good conscience"
Result: Friendship ends but integrity intact
Option 2: Victim-Centered Letter
Acknowledge: The verdict is just
Express: Sorrow for victims
Ask for: Accountability, not leniency
Focus: On harm done, not friendship
Option 3: Private Support
Support him privately: Visit in prison, etc.
Not publicly: Don't advocate for leniency
Keep it quiet: Don't put names to document
The middle ground: Possible
What They Actually Did
Chose: Public advocacy for leniency
Ignored: Victims entirely
Prioritized: 25-year friendship over rape victims
The message: Friends matter more than justice
The Timeline
1998: That '70s Show begins, all meet
2001-2003: Masterson rapes 3 women
2015: Ashton and Mila marry
2016: LAPD investigation begins
2020: Charges filed against Masterson
May 2023: Guilty verdict (2 counts)
September 7, 2023: Sentencing, letters leaked
September 9, 2023: Apology video
September 2023: Ashton resigns from Thorn
Friendship duration before letters: 25 years
Reputation damage: Permanent
The Lesson
You can:
- Be Hollywood's "relationship goals"
- Build anti-abuse charities
- Testify before Congress about exploitation
- Have 25 years of friendship with someone
But if you:
- Write letters defending convicted rapist
- Ignore victims entirely
- Ask for leniency after guilty verdict
- Center yourself in apology
The result:
- Victims hurt again
- Charity work undermined
- Hypocrisy exposed
- Public trust lost
- Reputation damaged permanently
From couple goals to cautionary tale.
From anti-abuse advocates to enabling the accused.
From "I only know my experience" to "I ignored victims."
From 25 years of friendship to permanent stain.
That's Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
Who learned that loyalty without limits.
Is enablement.
And that good intentions don't erase impact.
The victims waited years for justice.
Only to be minimized by celebrity letters.
That's the real crime within the crime.
And why "But he's my friend" is never enough.
