Actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on three counts of rape and sexual assault. Masterson starred in “That 70s Show” alongside famed actors Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderramma, and more.
The actor was convicted of the three instances that took place between 2000 and 2003. One woman was Masterson’s ex girlfriend. The actor declined to deliver a statement before the jury, but the three survivors made their cases.
One woman, identified as Jane Doe #2, stated “When you raped me, you stole from me. That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit. You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison.”
The first survivor, identified as Jane Doe #1, expressed regret at not reporting her rape to the authorities sooner. “I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with,” she said. “I am so sorry, and I’m so upset. I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police.”
The third woman, Masterson’s ex girlfriend, claimed that the rape left her “viewing my body as a crime scene my entire life.”
In the decades since the crimes, Masterson married actress and model Bijou Phillips. The actress previously defended her husband, claiming that the allegations were false. One of the survivors, a second generation Scientologist, claimed that she was ex-communicated by her own mother for speaking out against Masterson, a fellow Scientologist. According to Rolling Stone, the church continues to deny any rules preventing members of reporting one another to the police for criminal activity.
Actress and ex-Scientology follower turned survivor advocate Leah Remini was present throughout the trial, and assisted the survivors with building their cases against the former sitcom star.
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Social Media Reactions
Fans of the show, while disappointed to learn that the actor behind a beloved character is now a convicted rapist, were pleased to see that justice was served.
Oh yes, I hate that it has to come to this, but I am glad some judges take this crime seriously.
— Ze'ev Mishpacha (((Alpha Wolf))) ???????????????? (@TheSylvreWolfe) September 7, 2023
Others were pleasantly surprised to see a change in the sentencing of celebrities for sex crimes. For years, a number of high profile rape cases were swept under the rug until the Time’s Up movement exposed disgraced filmmaker Harvey Weinstein.
The days of people in Hollywood abusing women and getting away with it are over
— Hell1s (@Hell1s) September 7, 2023
Given the decades between the sentencing and the time of the crimes, critics are accusing the Church of Scientology of purposefully covering the crime and threatening the three survivors to prevent them from going to the police.
The Church of Scientology couldn't protect Danny Masterson forever. Props to his brave victims. They put those women through hell and nearly destroyed their lives to keep him from ending up behind bars.
— Ola Ojewumi (@Olas_Truth) September 7, 2023
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Following the sentencing, Leah Remini released a statement on her thoughts on the trial via X. In the statement, the actress thanked the judge and jury for serving justice, and continued to condemn Scientology.
My statement on the sentencing of Scientologist Danny Masterson:
"Sitting in court today with the women who survived Danny Masterson's predation was a surreal experience. Over the past seven decades, former Scientologists have sadly become used to Scientology using its…
— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) September 7, 2023
Masterson will reportedly not be eligible for parole until he is 77 years old. Masterson’s wife, Bijou Phillips, is yet to comment on today’s sentencing.
