Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis speak out about Danny Masterson character letters: ‘We support victims’

Ashton Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis are speaking out after they received backlash for writing character letters for Danny Masterson during his rape trial.

“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” the “Punk’d” creator began alongside his wife in a video message shared on Instagram Saturday.

Kunis added, “We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future.”

Kutcher, 45, said that Masterson’s family reached out to them a couple of months ago, asking if they could “write character letters to represent the person that we knew for 25 years so that the judge could take that into consideration — relative to the sentencing.”

The “Friends With Benefits” actress, 40, said the letters “were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling.”


Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher say they “support victims” after their character letters for convicted rapist Danny Masterson were made public.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis
“We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson,” the “Punk’d” creator said.
Instagram

Kutcher continued that the letters were “intended for the judge to read” and were not written to “undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way.”

“And we’re sorry if that has been the case,” he added before his wife concluded by giving her sympathies to all victims.

“Our heart goes out to every single person who has ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape,” she said.


Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson.
In the letter, Kutcher wrote that Masterson had “been nothing but a positive influence” on him and “an extraordinarily honest and intentional human being.”
WireImage

The cast of "That 70s Show."
Kunis described Masterson as an “amazing friend, confidant, and, above all, an outstanding older brother figure to me.”
Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Their joint statement came two days after Masterson, who starred alongside the couple on “That ’70s Show,” was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two rapes he committed in 2003.

After his sentencing, Kunis and Kutcher’s character letters to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo were made public.


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The “Jobs” actor wrote that Masterson, 47, had “been nothing but a positive influence” on him, adding that he is “an extraordinarily honest and intentional human being.”


Danny Masterson in court.
Masterson, who starred alongside the couple on “That ’70s Show,” was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two rapes he committed in 2003.
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Kutcher concluded his letter by saying that he doesn’t believe his former co-star “is an ongoing harm to society.”

Meanwhile, Kunis described Masterson as an “amazing friend, confidant, and, above all, an outstanding older brother figure to me.”

The “Luckiest Girl Alive” actress echoed her husband’s sentiments about Masterson keeping them away from drugs.


Danny Masterson arriving at court.
The “Ranch” alum is reportedly under 24-hour surveillance watch in jail.
SplashNews.com

“He demonstrates grace and empathy in every situation, be it within the entertainment industry or in our personal lives,” she added.

Masterson is reportedly now under 24-hour surveillance watch while he is in jail, waiting to be transferred to a California State prison.

His wife, Bijou Philips, is reportedly fearful that her husband and father of her 9-year-old daughter, Fianna, will be killed in prison.

source: nypost.com