“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” Kutcher mentioned within the video.
The enhance letters “were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way,” Kutcher mentioned. “We would never want to do that and we’re sorry if that has taken place.”
Kunis added, “Our heart goes out to every single person who’s ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape.”
In their persona letters, Kunis and Kutcher described Masterson as a tight human and “role model” for others. Kunis wrote that Masterson used to be “an outstanding role model and friend” and an “exceptional older brother figure.” Kutcher explained in his letter that Masterson at all times confirmed “decency, equality, and generosity.”
The letters have been reportedly written in July and August — in a while after Masterson used to be discovered responsible of 2 counts of rape all over a tribulation that concerned 3 ladies again in May, in keeping with the Associated Press. Masterson has lengthy denied the allegations in opposition to him, pleading no longer responsible all over two trials over the allegations. His protection argued that he had consensual intercourse with the ladies.
Kutcher mentioned Masterson’s circle of relatives requested the couple to put in writing the letters after the actor used to be convicted. He mentioned they have been intended to explain “the person that we knew for 25 years” so the pass judgement on may just take that under consideration for Masterson’s sentencing.
Criticism for the apology video and the enhance letters circulated on-line all over the weekend. Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one in every of Masterson’s sufferers, condemned the couple in an Instagram story post.
“In my opinion, you’re just as sick as your ‘mentor,’” she wrote of Kutcher. She added that Kunis will have to get started processing her enjoy at the “That ’70s Show” and search treatment.
Others on social media alleged that Kutcher had proven questionable conduct previously, specifically pointing to a 2003 video of the actor talking on his MTV display “Punk’d” about actress Hilary Duff. In the video, Kutcher says Duff, who used to be a minor on the time, is “one of the girls that we’re all waiting for to turn 18. Along with the Olsen twins.”
Representatives for Kutcher and Kunis didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Kutcher and Kunis are the most recent celebrities to look backlash on social media for writing persona letters. Back in August, social media used to be fast to criticize rapper Iggy Azalea for writing a enhance letter for Tory Lanez, who used to be sentenced to ten years within the taking pictures of rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Azalea reportedly requested the pass judgement on for a “transformational, not life destroying” sentencing in her letter.
Azalea apologized amid the backlash, pronouncing she didn’t know her letter would develop into public.
“I was told this was for a judge only, yet it’s being discussed in public?” she mentioned in a post on X, previously referred to as Twitter. “I never intended to publicly comment.”