As Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis confronted huge backlash over the weekend for writing glowing pre-sentencing letters on behalf of their good good friend, convicted rapist Danny Masterson, it’s potential that individuals will revisit the issues Demi Moore mentioned about Kutcher and her painful experiences with him throughout their six-year marriage.
For instance, the second time Kutcher reportedly cheated on Moore was on the weekend of their sixth anniversary in 2011, Moore revealed in her 2019 best-selling memoir “Inside Out.” Masterson, Kutcher’s good good friend and former co-star from “That ’70s Present,” was internet hosting his bachelor celebration in San Diego earlier than marrying Bijou Phillips. Kutcher wished to be on the celebration. Just a few days later, information broke that Kutcher picked up a younger blonde girl on the celebration, claiming he was separated, they usually spent the night time collectively.
Moore additionally described different ways in which Kutcher was insensitive or self-absorbed throughout their marriage, which lasted from 2005 till they break up in 2011, after he cheated on her. Moore mentioned Kutcher additionally pressed her into threesomes, inspired her to interrupt her sobriety and wasn’t very apologetic after he was publicly caught being untrue.
Kutcher’s integrity and previous conduct have come underneath query for the reason that character letters he and Kunis wrote on behalf of Masterson had been revealed Friday. The day earlier than, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life after being convicted of two counts of rape. Kutcher hailed Masterson as “a job mannequin,” whereas his spouse extolled his “glorious character” in letters, which reportedly had been written after a jury discovered him responsible of two assaults that occurred in his Hollywood Hills dwelling between 2001 and 2003.
Masterson has lengthy denied the allegations in opposition to him, pleading not responsible throughout two trials. His protection argued that he had consensual intercourse with the ladies, and his first trial led to a hung jury.
When the assaults occurred, Masterson, Kutcher and Kunis all labored collectively in “That ’70s Present,” which ran from 1998 to 2006. Within the spring of 2003, Kutcher started relationship Moore, she mentioned. His star was on the rise with “That ’70s Present” and his hidden digicam present, “Punk’d,” whereas she was a longtime Hollywood determine. A lot was product of their 15-year age distinction: He was 25, and he or she was 40. In Moore’s first assembly with Kutcher, she mentioned he was “prancing round” in his New York Metropolis resort suite in a towel, as he was about to take a bathe.
Moore mentioned they instantly hit it off. “There was simply an ease between us, a deep consolation — and plenty of electrical energy,” she mentioned. She additionally didn’t see him as a “flaky” child however as a younger man who already had “a really mature lifestyle.”
However sure passages of Moore’s guide might give ammunition to those that have accused the actor and tech entrepreneur of perpetuating “rape culture” by defending Masterson and who now query his long-time advocacy for intercourse trafficking victims.
Quickly after they started relationship, Moore mentioned she opened as much as Kutcher about being raped at age 15 by an older man. Moore mentioned Kutcher was the primary particular person she “actually talked to” in regards to the rape, which allowed her “to start out coping with that trauma, that disgrace, and to start out therapeutic.” But when Kutcher was so empathetic in that dialog with Moore, individuals might marvel how he might have presumably penned his letter on behalf of Masterson, through which he barely acknowledge his good friend’s crimes.
Earlier than they break up, Moore and Kutcher additionally launched a nonprofit, later named Thorn, to fight on-line intercourse trafficking. Moore’s guide mentioned they proceed to collaborate on the nonprofit whereas Kutcher has mentioned that the inspiration to take motion on intercourse trafficking got here as they had been watching a documentary about baby intercourse trafficking in Cambodia.
Hubby & I’ve began The Demi and Ashton Basis or The DNA Basis as we like 2 name it. We’re prepared 2 assist convey an finish 2 slavery1
— Demi Moore (@justdemi) September 23, 2009
However Moore additionally revealed that the official launch of the nonprofit, at a 2010 Clinton International Initiative occasion, coincided with information breaking in regards to the first time Kutcher cheated on her. Moore mentioned she was out of city when she realized that Kutcher had slept with one other 21-year-old girl of their dwelling. Moore additionally revealed that the younger girl hit on Kutcher once they had been out along with her oldest daughter, Rumer.
Moore mentioned she and Kutcher went forward with the Clinton International Initiative occasion, throughout which she spoke about launching a marketing campaign to attempt to alter the tradition that permits males to really feel OK about paying for intercourse with underage women. Moore recalled chatting with a room stuffed with vital individuals, whereas standing subsequent to her husband, “who’d simply cheated on me with a woman in regards to the age of my oldest daughter.” Whereas Moore mentioned on the occasion, “Actual males shield, respect, love, and care for ladies,” she privately didn’t “really feel protected, revered, cherished, or cared for myself.”
Over the weekend, individuals picked aside statements Kutcher and Kunis made of their character letters for Masterson. Kutcher devoted paragraph after to paragraph to describing Masterson as “nothing however a optimistic affect on me.”
Individuals notably centered on the couple’s claims that Masterson was essential of drug use. Kutcher mentioned he attributed “not falling into the everyday Hollywood life of medicine on to Danny,” whereas Kunis mentioned that “Danny performed a pivotal function in guiding me away from such harmful paths.” Critics mentioned these statements seemed to be a response to particular allegations within the case, even an try and “undermine” the victims’ accusations that Masterson drugged, then raped them.
In an try at injury management, Kutcher and Kunis recorded a video through which they apologized for his or her letters.
“We’re conscious of the ache that has been brought on by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” Kutcher mentioned within the video. He additionally mentioned the letters “had been meant for the decide to learn and to not undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any means. We’d by no means wish to do this, and we’re sorry if that has taken place.”
Kunis added, “Our coronary heart goes out to each single one who’s ever been a sufferer of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape.”
However their apology video didn’t go over effectively with many on social media.
Journalist Yashar Ali additionally mentioned it appeared that Church of Scientology legal professionals helped craft the letters, in addition to the apology video. Masterson is a Scientologist, and his trial contained allegations that the controversial group tried to cease the victims from going to authorities. Ali mentioned the letters “had been meant to undermine the victims.”
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis simply posted this video, with closely lawyered language, in response to the response to their writing letters on behalf of Danny Masterson.
It’s vital to notice that the letters weren’t simply character letters you’d write for a good friend.
The… pic.twitter.com/DegzlcNXXv
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 9, 2023
Others criticizing the help letters and apology video included Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one in all Masterson’s alleged victims. In an Instagram Story submit, she informed Kutcher: “In my view, you’re simply as sick as your ‘mentor.’” She added that Kunis ought to begin processing her expertise on “That ’70s Present” and search remedy. She shared outdated footage from “The Rosie O’Donnell Present,” through which Kunis recalled Kutcher making a “facet wager” with Masterson about French-kissing her when she was 14 years outdated on “That ’70s Present.”
Bixler and others cited different methods Kutcher confirmed questionable conduct prior to now, particularly pointing to a 2003 video of the actor talking on his MTV present “Punk’d” about actress Hilary Duff. Within the video, Kutcher says Duff, who was a minor on the time, is “one of many women that we’re all ready for to show 18. Together with the Olsen twins.”
Christina Ricci additionally slammed Kutcher and Kunis for his or her letters, although with out naming them. On Instagram Story, the “Addams Household” star mentioned, simply because individuals we love and admire don’t do “horrible issues” to us, “that doesn’t imply they didn’t do horrible issues” to others. “To discredit the abused is a criminal offense,” Ricci mentioned.
“If we are saying we help victims — girls, youngsters, males, boys — then we should have the ability to take this stance,” Ricci mentioned.
