Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’ letters of praise for Danny Masterson revealed

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis wrote letters praising Danny Masterson’s “exceptional character” before he was jailed for 30 years for rape.

Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Danny Masterson.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis reportedly wrote letters in support of actor Danny Masterson during his rape trial, which recently found him guilty on two counts of forcible rape.

Good Morning America reported that the couple were among a group of over 50 people who submitted statements on behalf of Masterson ahead of his sentencing on Friday.

He was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in a retrial for raping two of the three victims he was originally charged with assaulting. The assaults reportedly occurred on separate incidents between 2001 and 2003, while he was still starring on That ’70s Show.

GMA reported that Kutcher called Masterson a “role model,” while Kunis vouched for his “exceptional character.””

Kutcher (left) and Kunis (right) with Masterson (second from right) in a 1999 publicity shot for That 70s Show.

According to full copies of the letters obtained by journalist Tony Ortega, Kutcher wrote that Masterson “instantly” became a “dedicated co worker, and role model to me” when the pair began working together on That ’70s Show in 1998. He also wrote that he attributes his “not falling into the typical Hollywood life of drugs directly to Danny.”

“While I’m aware that the judgement has been cast as guilty on two counts of rape by force and the victims have a great desire for justice. I hope that my testament to his character is taken into consideration in sentencing,” Kutcher’s letter stated. “I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society and having his daughter raised without a present father would a tertiary injustice in and of itself.”

In her letter, Kunis wrote that she can “wholeheartedly vouch” for Masterson’s “exceptional character and the tremendous positive influence he has had on me and the people around him.” She and Kutcher both highlighted Masterson’s parenting skills; Kunis wrote that he was “an exceptional older brother figure” to her.

Kunis said she could “wholeheartedly vouch” for Masterson’s “exceptional character.” The actor has been jailed for 30 years for rape. Picture: ANGELA WEISS / AFP

Actors Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, who starred alongside Masterson on That ’70s Show as Kitty and Red Foreman, also submitted letters to the judge.

Rupp’s letter said that it was “so hard” for her to wrap her head around the two counts of forcible rape Masterson faced, as she “always” knew him to be “respectful and kind.”

Smith also wrote that Masterson “treated all women on the show with respect, not only the women in the cast, but women on the crew as well.”

Niesha Trout, one of the women Masterson was convicted of raping, provided a statement about her experience during his trial. “When you raped me, you stole from me. That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit,” she said, per GMA’s report.

Trout, who also identified herself on X (formerly known as Twitter) as one of the victims Masterson was charged with assaulting, appeared to have tweeted about Kutcher and Kunis’ letters.

Masterson in court this week. Picture: Lucy Nicholson – Pool/Getty

Masterson (top centre) with the cast of That 70s Show.

“The letters will be leaked soon, but I want you all to know that post Danny Masterson’s conviction & after they read all of the gruesome sworn-under-oath testimony of 5 of Danny’s victims, Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis submitted letters to the judge asking her for leniency on Danny,” she shared on X.

ABC7 reporter Lisa Bartley also said that they received access to the letters sent to Judge Charlaine Olmedo on behalf of Masterson. Bartley tweeted, “Still going through them but actors @aplusk and @MilaKunisv both speak highly of their friend, now convicted rapist @dannymasterson,” tagging the three actors’ Twitter accounts.

This is not the first time Kutcher has spoken in support of his former co-star since the beginning of his trial. He has remained friends with Masterson over the years since they starred together in That ’70s Show. Masterson later starred opposite Kutcher in the Netflix series The Ranch, though he exited the show after his rape accusations came to light in 2017.

In February of this year, just months before Masterson was found guilty of raping two Jane Does, Kutcher told Esquire, “I don’t want him to elude the law, but I wish for the truth to show he’s innocent.”

He continued, “I can’t know … I’m not the judge, the jury, the DA, the victim, or the accused. I’m in no position to comment. I genuinely don’t know.”

Masterson will not be eligible for parole until he is 77 years old.

This story originally appeared on Decider and is republished here with permission.