The recent revelation that celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and others had written support letters for Danny Masterson, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for two counts of forcible rape, has sparked a strong reaction from fellow stars. Let’s delve into their statements and the implications of their actions.
Danny Masterson’s Sentencing: To provide some context, Danny Masterson, known for his role in “That ’70s Show,” recently received a 30-year prison sentence for two counts of forcible rape. This verdict had a ripple effect in Hollywood as it prompted some of his peers, including Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, to write letters in support of him. Their intention was to present a favorable character portrait to the judge during Masterson’s sentencing.
Christina Ricci’s Perspective: Christina Ricci, who has had her share of personal turmoil, including alleged physical and emotional abuse from her ex-husband, James Heerdegen, took to social media to share her thoughts. She highlighted a crucial point – that sometimes, individuals we love and admire can commit heinous acts. These actions might not be directed at us personally, but they don’t negate the fact that they occurred. Ricci underscored the importance of not discrediting the victims, emphasizing that such behavior should be condemned.
She also touched on the challenging reality that individuals who appear outwardly “awesome” can be predators and abusers behind closed doors. Ricci urged society to stand with and believe survivors, acknowledging that coming forward and achieving convictions in such cases is far from easy.
Here’s what she wrote on social media:
“So sometimes people we loved and admired do horrible things.
They might not do these things to us and we only know who they were to us but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do the horrible things and to discredit the abused is a crime.
People we know as ‘awesome guys’ can be predators and abusers. It’s tough to accept but we have to. If we say we support victims – women, children, men, boys – then we must be able to take this stance.
Unfortunately I’ve known lots of ‘awesome guys’ who were lovely to me but have been proven to be abusers privately. I’ve also had personal experience with this. Believe victims. It’s not easy to come forward. It’s not easy to get a conviction.
We out here believing and hoping for a better future.”
Amy Schumer’s Response: Amy Schumer found herself in a bit of a quagmire when she faced accusations of cyberbullying after sharing a photo of Nicole Kidman and making a tongue-in-cheek comment about Kidman being an alien. In response, Schumer issued an apology on Instagram, using humor to point out the irony of her situation. She suggested that the cast of “That ’70s Show” should write letters advocating for her forgiveness, indirectly drawing attention to Ashton and Mila’s support for Masterson:
“I want to apologize to all the people I hurt posting a photo of Nicole Kidman and alluding to her being an alien. I will be asking the cast of That ’70s Show to write letters advocating for my forgiveness.”
Kathy Griffin’s Personal Experience: Kathy Griffin, known for her outspokenness, used TikTok to share a deeply personal story. She revealed that her older brother was a pedophile, and she had tried to have him arrested. Griffin didn’t mince words when discussing Masterson’s convictions, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. She expressed frustration with those who chose to support Masterson due to their friendship, stating that blood relations should not excuse ignoring criminal behavior.
Griffin’s key message was that when you know someone is committing sexual assault, you should take action to address it, emphasizing the moral obligation to intervene.
She said:
“The notion that this guy [Danny] was also convicted of drugging these women … that is such serious stuff that I don’t really care that when they were working on ‘That ’70s Show’ he was like a good guy to work with.
Now this was my brother, so I don’t want to hear about Ashton and Mila and Giovanni Ribisi and people that feel like they had to stick up for Danny Masterson because he was their bro. He was their buddy.
The point is, blood was not thicker than water in my case, and if you know that somebody is committing SA [sexual assault], you should do something if you can. My God, at least try.”
In essence, these celebrities are shedding light on a significant issue – the responsibility of individuals in the public eye when it comes to supporting those accused of serious crimes. Their statements emphasize the importance of believing and standing with survivors, while also holding individuals accountable for their actions, irrespective of personal connections. This incident serves as a stark reminder that fame and friendship should never overshadow the pursuit of justice and the protection of victims. It’s a topic that sparks important conversations about the ethical choices we make in our personal and professional lives.
