Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have been in the spotlight recently, and not for the reasons they usually are. The couple faced significant backlash for writing character letters in support of their former That ’70s Show co-star, Danny Masterson, who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for two counts of forcible rape.
In the letters they penned, Ashton and Mila referred to Danny as “a role model” and a “positive influence” in their lives, which drew criticism from many who questioned their support for a convicted rapist.
Acknowledging the controversy, Ashton and Mila released a statement via a video posted on social media on Saturday (September 9). In the video, they sought to clarify their position and motives behind writing the letters.
Ashton began by acknowledging the pain caused by their character letters:
“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson.”
Mila emphasized their support for victims:
“We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.”
Ashton continued, shedding light on the reason behind their letters:
“A couple of months ago, Danny’s family reached out to us, and they asked us to write character letters to represent the person that we knew for 25 years so that the judge could take that into full consideration of the sentencing.”
Mila clarified the purpose of their letters:
“The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling.”
Ashton added that their intent was solely for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimonies of the victims or cause further trauma:
“They were intended for the judge to read, and not to undermine the testimonies of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that. And we are sorry if that has taken place.”
Mila concluded their statement with a heartfelt message of empathy and support:
“Our hearts go out to every single person that has ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape.”
In a situation as complex and sensitive as this one, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have chosen to address the backlash directly and express their empathy for victims of sexual assault. The issue remains contentious, but their statement sheds light on their perspective and intentions regarding their support for Danny Masterson.
