Following backlash after writing letters supporting convicted rapist and fellow That 70s Show star Danny Masterson, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have released a video apology.
Kutcher posted the video to his Instagram page on Saturday. Sitting alongside his wife and former co-star, he begins by stating the couple is “aware of the pain that has been caused” by writing character letters on behalf of Masterson.
“They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way,” the 45-year-old said.
“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,” Kunis added.
Kutcher’s letter referred to Masterson as an “excellent” role model who “set an extraordinary standard” for treating people. Kunis wrote about Masterson’s “innate goodness and genuine nature” as an “outstanding older brother figure.”
One of the women who Masterson was convicted of raping called the apology video “incredibly insulting and hurtful” and hoped that the celebrity couple “learn radical accountability and the importance of self-education to learn when to keep their privilege in check.”
Since the letters were public, footage of Kutcher speaking about then-underage actresses from a 2003 episode of his MTV series “Punk’d” has resurfaced. He referred to Lizzie McGuire actress Hillary Duff and Full House twins Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as “girls that we’re all waiting for to turn 18.”
ashton kutcher is a slime ball pic.twitter.com/6ZOQ70Vf21
— riley (@princess_antifa) September 9, 2023
Another compromising archived clip shows the couple from a 2002 episode of The Rosie O’Donnell Show talking about Masterson betting Kutcher about French kissing the then 14-year-old actress.
On Thursday, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape. A jury deadlocked on a third charge that was eventually dismissed.
