Actor couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis took to social media on Saturday to address some of the criticism they’ve received for sending a letter of support to a Los Angeles judge overseeing the Danny Masterson rape case before Masterson’s sentencing.
Masterson sentenced on Thursday to 30 years in prison. After found guilty in June of raping two women in his Hollywood Hills home nearly two decades ago.
Kutcher, Kunis and Masterson co-starred on the hit sitcom “That ’70s Show” from 1998 to 2006.
Danny Masterson later starred alongside Kutcher in the Netflix comedy series “The Ranch”. Which ran for four seasons from 2016 to 2020.
Masterson only appeared in the first three seasons. He fired from the show in December 2017 after rape allegations surfaced.
“A few months ago, Danny’s family contacted us and asked us to write character letters representing the man we knew for 25 years. So that the judge could fully consider him in terms of sentencing”, Kutcher explained in a video posted on Instagram.
“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters we have written on behalf of Danny Masterson,” he added.
Kutcher and Kunis were among about 50 of Masterson’s colleagues, relatives and friends who wrote letters on his behalf pleading for a leniency.
In his letter to L.A. County Superior Court Judge Charlene F. Olmedo, Kutcher described Masterson as a “role model” and “an extraordinarily honest and purposeful human being.” Who “set an extraordinary standard that you How to treat other people.”
Kutcher also wrote that he believes Masterson is not an ongoing loss to society and that the accused actor is one of the few people he would trust to be alone with his children.
In her letter, Kunis said she could “wholeheartedly vouch for Danny Masterson’s exceptional character.” Further she said she could “feel his natural goodness” from meeting him for the first time.
Despite these character references, Olmedo still sentenced Masterson to the maximum allowable sentence.
In Saturday’s message, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis said they did not mean to minimize the trauma and experiences of Masterson’s victims.
“The letters did not written to question the legitimacy of the court system or the validity of the jury’s verdict,” Kunis said. “We support the victims.”
“They intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the victims’ testimony or re-traumatize them in any way,” Kutcher added.
“And we’re sorry if that happened.” Kunis ended the video by acknowledging victims of sexual violence. She says: “Our hearts go out to anyone who has ever been sexually assaulted or raped.”