Ashton Kutcher broke his silence about Danny Masterson’s mistrial for sexual assault allegations. The two actors have a long working history and co-starred inThat ’70s ShowandThe Ranch.
Kutcher and Masterson were key players intheThat ’70s Showcast. Kutcher played Michael Kelso, a lovable, dimwitted ‘himbo,’ while Masterson played Steven Hyde, the group’s resident criminal. Though the show concluded in 2006, Kutcher and Masterson would go on to star in Netflix’sThe Ranchtogether, and that show came out in 2016. The two also apparently had a personal friendship outside of work.
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In a new profile forEsquire, Kutcher talked about the allegations against Masterson. Though Kutcher stated that he hopes for Masterson “to be found innocent of the charges brought against him," he also acknowledged that he stood for victims of assault and ultimately couldn’t know if Masterson was innocent. “Ultimately, I can’t know,” Kutcher said. “I’m not the judge. I’m not the jury. I’m not the DA. I’m not the victim. And I’m not the accused. And so, in that case, I don’t have a space to comment. I just don’t know.”
Fans might have noticed thatMasterson was the onlyThat ’70s Showcast memberwho did not return forThat ’90s Show.This was due to the ongoing legal battle around the allegations. Masterson was removed from Netflix’sThe Ranchhalfway through its third season. Though Masterson’s trial was declared a mistrial in November, prosecutors have stated that they will seek to retry the case and are hopeful for a different outcome.
Netflix appears to be taking an even safer approach to its reboot. ThougheveryThat ’70s Showcharacter gets an updateon what they were up to beforeThat ’90s Show, Hyde is never mentioned. His presence is alluded to in background props, but the character never even appears in flashbacks.
Whenlooking back atThat ’70s Show,many fans now find Masterson’s presence glaring. Some of the alleged attacks reportedly occurred while he was starring on the show, so the possibility of watching someone capable of such a heinous act makes many viewers uncomfortable or distraught. While the show may be a nostalgic memory for many, it’s simply something that cannot be overcome.
