Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have issued an apology for submitting letters vouching for Danny Masterson’s good character prior to his rape sentencing.
Thursday, the That ’70s Show co-star of the Hollywood couple was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of raping two women in the early 2000s.
Kutcher and Kunis were heavily criticized after it was revealed that they were among more than 50 individuals who composed letters of support to the judge on behalf of the disgraced actor prior to his sentencing.
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In his letter, the Punk’d actor referred to his former co-star as a “role model,” while the Ted actress described him as a “amazing friend, confidant, and, most importantly, an outstanding older brother figure.”
In a video posted to Instagram on Saturday, the pair apologized for the letters, with Kutcher stating, “We are aware of the pain that the character letters we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson have caused.”
40-year-old Kunis added, “We support victims. Through our efforts, we have done this in the past and will continue to do so in the future.”
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Her 45-year-old spouse went on to clarify that Masterson’s family requested character letters to “represent the 25-year-old person that we knew.”
She continued, “The letters were not written to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the legal system or the jury’s verdict.”
Kutcher continued by stating that the letters were intended solely for the judge, with his wife concluding, “Our hearts go out to every single victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape.”
Debra Jo Rupp, who portrayed Kitty on the critically acclaimed sitcom, and Kurtwood Smith, who portrayed her spouse Red, also penned similar letters.
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The letters and ensuing apology from Kutcher and Kunis have sparked outrage, including criticism from fellow celebrity Christina Ricci. One of Masterson’s victims described their social media contrition as “extremely insulting and hurtful,” as reported by journalist Yashar Ali.
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