Ashton Kutcher spoke out about his thoughts on rape allegations made against his “That ’70s Show” co-star Danny Masterson.
Kutcher discussed the matter during a lengthy interview for the Jan. 2023 issue of Esquire. Kutcher weighed in on his feelings about Masterson’s legal battle, and said he wished for his friend “to be found innocent of the charges brought against him,” according to Esquire.
Kutcher also told Esquire that “ultimately” he “can’t know” whether Masterson is innocent. “I’m not the judge. I’m not the jury. I’m not the DA. I’m not the victim. And I’m not the accused. And so, in that case, I don’t have a space to comment,” he said in the interview. “I just don’t know.”
He says he wants his former costar “to be found innocent of the charges brought against him” (via @toofab)https://t.co/ypeA4k26kI
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 31, 2023
“Someday, his kid is going to read about this,” Kutcher continued. Masterson and his wife, actress Bijou Phillips, have an eight-year-old daughter.
The famous actor expressed his ability to see both sides of the situation. “I wholesale feel for anybody who feels like they were violated in any way,” Kutcher said, according to Esquire. (RELATED: ‘Like No Time Passed’: Debra Jo Rupp From ‘That ’70s Show’ Reflects On New Spinoff Series)
Ashton Kutcher wants to believe Danny Masterson is “innocent of the charges brought against him,” but “ultimately, I can’t know.” https://t.co/64mR5H1xPX
— Variety (@Variety) January 31, 2023
Kutcher also recalled Masterson’s dedication to remaining free of scandal and drama during the taping of “That ’70s show.” He described Masterson as a responsible, honorable person who led by example.
“He’s like, ‘One fucking rule: Don’t do anything fucking stupid and fuck this up. Because if you fuck it up, you fuck it up for everybody,'” Kutcher said, recalling advice Masterson had given him while the two were working on the show, which ran from 1998 until 2006.
Masterson faces three counts of rape from three alleged incidents that reportedly took place between 2001-2003. The judge declared a mistrial in December due to a deadlocked jury. Masterson is currently awaiting retrial, according to Esquire.
In the Netflix series “That ’90s Show,” which premiered on Jan. 19, Kutcher reprised his “That ’70s Show” role, as did former co-stars Mila Kunis, Laure Prepon, Topher Grace and Wilmer Valderrama. Masterson was notably absent.