Everything you need to know about the Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis scandal over their Danny Masterson letters

Last week, former “That 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of two counts of forcible rape earlier this year. Judge Charlaine Olmedo spoke directly to the actor after his conviction, saying, "Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person's voice and choice. Your actions 20 years ago were criminal and that is why you are here." 

However, it has come to light that some people in Masterson’s life were a bit more lenient with their words, and they include “That 70s Show” co-stars and married couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. Before Masterson’s sentencing, the couple wrote letters of support for Masterson, urging the judge for leniency in her sentencing. These letters were written after Masterson was convicted of rape. Now, Kutcher and Kunis are facing major backlash for their actions, and were forced to film an apology over the weekend, releasing it online.

“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” Kutcher said in the video posted directly to his official Instagram.

“We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future,” Kunis chimed in.

Kutcher then explained they were asked by Masterson’s family to write the letters to “represent the person that we knew for 25 years.”

“The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system, or the validity of the jury’s ruling,” Kunis continues.

“They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way,” Kutcher continues. “We would never want to do that, and we’re sorry if that has taken place.”

“Our heart goes out to every single person who’s ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape,” Kunis says before turning off the video.

The Underground Bunker, a Scientology news blog, broke the news on September 8 of the couple’s letters of support, with the letters alleging stating, “As a friend, Danny has been nothing but a positive influence on me," Kutcher wrote. Kunis echoed similar sentiments, noting: "I believe it is essential to share the remarkable influence Danny has had on my life and the lives of others." 

One of Masterson’s victims, Jane Doe #1, spoke to journalist Yashar Ali, who posted her response to Kutcher and Kunis’s apology to Twitter. “This video was incredibly insulting and hurtful. My hope is that they learn radical accountability and the importance of self-education to learn when to keep their privilege in check — especially Ashton, who claims to work with victims of sex crimes. And as to Mila, I can only think of ‘Times Up.'”

Twitter has also taken issue with their statement, and the couple has come under serious fire. One person on Twitter wrote, "Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher writing letters in support of Danny Masterson is f****ng unconscionable."

Another person called out the couples for openly condemning Will Smith after the Oscars slap but not Masterson and his crimes. "So Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher were disgusted and sat down/didn't clap when Will Smith won an Oscar... but they support and 'speak highly' of a serial rapist?" they tweeted. 

Kutcher and Kunis' support also shocked fans due to the former co-founding the Thorn organization, which is devoted to fighting sex trafficking and child abuse. "Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, who famously founded a non-profit to fight child sexual abuse, went on record in support of a RAPIST," a Twitter user wrote.

After their apology was posted, fellow actor Christina Ricci seemingly addressed the couple and their support of Masterson, without actually naming them. Posting to her Instagram Stories, the actress of “Mermaids” and “The Addams Family” fame wrote, “So sometimes people we have 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.”

The “Yellowjackets” star continued, “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 who 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,” she added in a second post.

Another person who has come out on top of this whole debacle is also a fellow “That 70s Show” star, Topher Grace. For years, Grace was seen as outside of the clique formed by castmates Kutcher, Kunis, Masterson, and Wilmer Valderama. Rumours swirled that he was difficult to work with or that he didn’t jive with the other actors. Now, Twitter is singing his praises for seemingly knowing all along that the “clique” was full of toxic players.

According to Page Six, Grace’s wife, Ashley Hinshaw, posted to her Instagram Stories about her unwavering support of sexual assault and rape victims, without naming Masterson directly.

“To every rape victim that is that is retraumatized by witnessing society debate and focus their attention on what is going to happen to the RAPIST … I see you,” she wrote.