Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologized for private letters the well-known couple wrote on behalf of their ’70s Present co-star Danny Masterson earlier than he was sentenced for rape this week.
A Los Angeles choose dominated Thursday Masterson is sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003.
In a video posted on Instagram, Kutcher and Kunis mentioned they had been sorry for the ache they could have prompted via the messages, which had been posted on Friday.
Kutcher mentioned the letters asking for leniency “had been meant to be learn by the choose and to not undermine the victims’ testimony or re-traumatize them in any approach.” “We might by no means wish to try this and we’re sorry if that occurred.”
Kutcher mentioned Masterson’s household contacted them after the actor’s conviction in Might and requested them to jot down private letters describing “the individual we’ve recognized for 25 years.” The letters had been printed on-line by The Hollywood Reporter and different digital publications.
Masterson starred with Kutcher, Kunis, and Topher Grace on “That ’70s” from 1998 till 2006.
He reunited with Kutcher within the 2016 Netflix comedy The Ranch, however was reduce from the story when the Los Angeles Police Division’s investigation was revealed the next yr.
Los Angeles Superior Courtroom Decide Charlene F. Olmedo, Masterson, 47, was sentenced after listening to statements from each girls and requests for reduction from protection attorneys.
Kutcher described Masterson as a person who handled folks “with decency, equality and generosity,” he wrote in his letter dated July 27, 2023.
Kunis described Masterson as a “position mannequin and excellent good friend” and an “extraordinary huge brother determine.”
Each rapes occurred at Masterson’s dwelling within the Hollywood space in 2003 when he was on the peak of his fame. The victims testified that Masterson drugged them earlier than violently raping them.
Kunis mentioned within the apology video that their messages weren’t meant to undermine the victims’ testimony.
“Our hearts exit to everybody who has been a sufferer of sexual assault, assault or rape,” she mentioned.