this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2023
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[–] ArtificialLink@yall.theatl.social 163 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ashton Kutcher wants to prevent and stop human trafficking so much so he mostly retired from acting to make a bigger impact against it. Yet he is okay with a rapist cause it's his "friend". Talk about a fuckin hypocrite. More proof that the famous and wealthy live by a different standard. No matter how good they seem.

[–] protist@mander.xyz 130 points 1 year ago (5 children)

More proof that the famous and wealthy live by a different standard. No matter how good they seem.

You don't need to be famous or wealthy to overlook or cover up the crimes of someone you know. It happens every day among people of every socioeconomic status, between friends and within families and businesses. In this case he isn't even trying to cover for him, just wrote a letter supporting him at his trial based on what he knows of the guy. I don't think it was in good taste, but also don't think it's worth shunning Ashton Kutcher over

[–] TheFriar@lemm.ee 39 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I dunno. Seems like an incredibly fucked up thing to do when it comes to the severity of the crimes. At some point, you turn your back on someone and don’t support them because what they did is beyond the pale. It’s all about context. Being a rapist doesn’t have any context in which I could support you.

Stealing from a store? I got your back. You killed the person that murdered your family? I’ll help you bury the body. You raped women? Get fucked, dickhead. You’re not who I thought you were and you don’t deserve me by your side.

[–] exploding_whale@lemmy.ml 19 points 1 year ago

It is incredibly fucked, iits just not a celebrity/wealthy thing. It's a human failing.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago

Thank you I know someone who raped some women. We shuned that fucking rapist and turn on back on him.

What he did writing a letter in support of his friend takes away all the good he was doing. Fuck Ashton. He should've have turn his back and stay quite.

[–] Sylver@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is my take. Ashton takes his job very seriously, but if he wanted to remain neutral on this he should have just shut the fuck up and accepted the court rulings like the rest of us.

[–] electrogamerman@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Im confused. OP wrote the letter was written during his trial, and you said he should have accepted the ruling.

Was this letter written before or after the ruling?

[–] Nelots@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis were two of more than 50 people who wrote to the judge in the Danny Masterson sexual assault trial to support the convicted actor ahead of his sentencing, per court documents obtained by Variety.

I had to look it up because the dates weren't in the article, but he was convicted in May, and these letters were dated between July and August. He wasn't sentenced until just a few days ago.

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[–] jonne@infosec.pub 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean, if a friend was credibly accused of the stuff he did, I wouldn't be writing any letters of support. There's a limit to what you'd do for someone in the name of friendship.

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

mm hmmm, that's a former friend right there. i don't put up with abusive or toxic behavior.

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[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 year ago (7 children)

If I found out my best friend was a rapist I would drop him before the ink on his arrest warrant dried

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[–] hypnotoad__@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

Any friend that rapes is no friend of mine, IDGAF how long I've known you or what we've been through

I could say the same about Nazis, pedereasses, etc - some things are way bigger than friendship

[–] ArgentRaven@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago

Didn't Kutcher kick Masterson off his show, "The Ranch", when he found out about the allegations?

I don't know what's going though any of their minds and I don't know much about the case, but writing letters for your former friend that's a piece of shit is common. 30 years is a very long time. Longer than Cosby got. So it couldn't be good. But I wonder what the details are before I immediately jump to "most of the cast are assholes by association". Also, did no one know about this during the show? Mila even had to stage kiss and hug the guy when their characters were dating.

[–] lazyvar@programming.dev 113 points 1 year ago (8 children)

I get asking for mercy for family or a close friend, even when they’ve committed crimes, heinous or otherwise. I’ll chalk that up to human emotions.

But ffs, read the room a bit.

His dedication to leading a drug-free life and the genuine care he extends to others make him an outstanding role model and friend.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Danny’s character is his unwavering commitment to discouraging the use of drugs.

His dedication to avoiding all substances has inspired not only me but also countless others in our circle. Danny’s steadfastness in promoting a drug-free lifestyle has been a guiding light in my journey through the entertainment world and has helped me prioritize my well-being and focus on make responsible choices.

Saying stuff like that when he’s convicted of drugging victims before taping them is just nuts. Even by some sense of stupidity you think you’re just trying to highlight that he’s not a habitual drug user, you’re essentially just highlighting how calculated his actions were by drugging his victims.

[–] Silverseren@kbin.social 49 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Also, in what manner would personal drug use have anything to do with him being a rapist? Their attempted defense is irrelevant.

[–] SomeoneElse@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I commented elsewhere that I wondered if they believe he’s innocent. If they truly believe this is a miscarriage of justice could these letters be written with his appeal in mind? There’s no physical evidence as I understand, maybe they’re going for the “this guy is so sober he wouldn’t even know how to get drugs” angle? I’m just talking out of my arse now but I’m so confused by the level of support for him I can’t help but clutch at straws to try to explain it.

[–] hypelightfly@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If it was drug charges sure, but it's not. Drug use is irrelevant.

He raped multiple women.

[–] killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He drugged the women so it's relevant in that sense. Implying that he wouldn't know how to obtain the substances needed to do that is an argument for his innocence.

It's a pathetic argument to make, but it's not illogical.

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[–] jonne@infosec.pub 36 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, he would've been a better person if he did more drugs and less raping.

[–] Bonesince1997@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago

I didn't read the rest of the letter, the paragraphs expressing nondrug use sounded exactly like it needed this to be pointed out. What a silly bar anyway, did you use drugs or not. Then to hear he used them on his victims...these letters are just clueless.

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So ... what they're saying is that he was stone cold sober when he was drugging his victims? That's not a great look.

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[–] iforgotmyinstance@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

Pretty sure the drug free commitment is from his Scientologist handlers.

Masterson was born to rich socialites and insulated from consequences his whole life. Fuck that shithead.

[–] who8mydamnoreos@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

People who preach often about not doing the minor vices, are usually engaged in some heinous shit; the preaching bit is a cover both lying to others and most importantly themselves

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

so let me get this straight, danny would get drugs and instead of using it himself, he used it on unsuspecting victims and then taped himself raping them. and this has been a "a guiding light in (ashtons) journey"... "of making responsible choices"...? what.the.fuck?!

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[–] matchphoenix@feddit.uk 47 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Both Kutcher and Kunis wrote about Masterson’s drug-free lifestyle, and noted he was a positive force on their lives. During the trial, prosecutors said Masterson drugged women before sexually assaulting them.

Such a long and glowing article for a man who drugged women to rape them. Including the positive quotes from his friends made sense, but a bit more perspective was needed than the few sentences discussing his crimes.

[–] SomeoneElse@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

I wondered if it was a “presented without comment” kinda thing? Shade on everyone without explicit condemnation? Maybe the writer was told to write a sympathetic piece and just couldn’t bring themselves to? The more I type the more wishful I realise this thinking is… 😕

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[–] stevedidWHAT@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago

Imagine giving a fuck about celebrities or their affairs.

Hope all the victims get every last cent of their recovery processes paid for on top of the prison sentencings

I don’t personally believe in long prison sentences because I know the American judicial system isn’t at all about rehab but I’m also a cis dude who generally doesn’t have to worry about getting raped so I’m not gonna make that call for people who gotta worry about that

[–] Leviathan@lemmy.world 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)

When did they write the letters? Was it before any of the details of the case had been made public or after? Were they personally written or did PR firms send them out as a matter of course? I don't really give a shit about celebrities or their personal lives and I'm all for a good old fashioned internet pile on, but for some reason I'd like to know the details first.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 24 points 1 year ago

After he was found guilty, before he was sentenced

Masterson had been facing 30 years to life, which is the maximum sentence allowed by law. His defense was asking for 15 years to life, so those who wrote letters to the judge were likely aware he would be getting at least 15 years in prison.

Idunno. If my best friend was facing between 15 and 30 years in prison for multiple rapes, I don't think I would be begging the judge to reduce his sentence because he's such a good guy aside from the raping

Also he's a scientologist, so fuck him

[–] stopthatgirl7@kbin.social 33 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But, y’know, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock was just beyond the pale for Kunis. Gotcha.

[–] query@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Definitely the wrong thing to do, but also something that could be dealt with with a financial penalty and a sincere apology. When Masterson isn't even admitting to his crimes, celebrities advocating for him is akin to what Will Smith did, using a position of privilege against the victims.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's not the point. The point is Kunis said that was unconscionable in that case, and in this one, she's defending a serial rapist.

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[–] Pistcow@lemm.ee 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Rape is OK as long as it's not sex trafficking.

-Ashton Kutcher, probably

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[–] thisnameisnottolong@aussie.zone 29 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This is why letters of character should not be considered in a court of law.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

Idunno, it shows me that Kutcher and Kunis are awful people. I'd rather know that so I can avoid giving them money in the future

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[–] 3rihskerb@lemm.ee 28 points 1 year ago (4 children)

The article states 50 others wrote in support of this rapist. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

“Other stars from “The 70’s Show” who wrote to the judge include Debra Jo Rupp, who played Kitty on the sitcom, and Kurtwood Smith, who played Red. Masterson’s famous family members wrote letters in his support, including his siblings Alanna Masterson (“The Walking Dead”), Christopher Masterson (“Malcolm In the Middle”), Jordan Masterson (“Last Man Standing”), as well as his brother-in-law Billy Baldwin and his wife, the actor and model, Bijou Phillips. Other Hollywood names who wrote to the judge include actor Giovanni Ribisi; Jim Patterson, creator of Netflix’s “The Ranch;” Masterson’s former publicist, Jenni Weinman; and TV director, David Trainer, who worked on “The 70’s Show” and “The Ranch.””

[–] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

Whelp, whole list of people who can get fucked and whose work I will not be patronizing.

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[–] HellAwaits@lemm.ee 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

These two cunts can live with that rapist in his prison cell if they love him so much.

[–] CeruleanRuin@lemmings.world 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'll sum up my feelings about this in four words.

Who gives a shit?

Here are four more:

Celebrity 👏 gossip 👏 isn't 👏 news 👏.

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

i lost any kind of respect i had for mila and ashton.

[–] uphillbothways@kbin.social 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What does Scientology have on these two? Yuck.

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[–] gullible@kbin.social 10 points 1 year ago

RIP Trent the teetotaler. He may have touched those kids, parents, grandparents, pets, and all of their toothbrushes, but he never touched a bottle. He will be missed.

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