10 Celebrity Reactions to the Danny Masterson Verdict

Top 10 Celebrity Reactions to the Danny Masterson Verdict

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining the most notable public responses to the guilty verdict and thirty-year prison sentencing of Danny Masterson, and in some cases, reactions to a reaction.

Leah Remini

Heavily wrapped up in the Danny Masterson case is the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson has long been a member. Another actor who was also once affiliated is Leah Remini, who left the church in 2013 and has since been a vocal denouncer of its reported corruption. Remini even produced a documentary series investigating the church with an episode specifically focusing on Masterson. Remini was present during the sentencing, and unsurprisingly posted to the social media service now known as X about her relief that Masterson is now “off the streets.” She went on to laud Masterson’s accusers for their bravery, while also criticizing the church for their reported cover-up of the offenses.

Cedric Bixler-Zavala

Lead singer of the band the Mars Volta, Cedric Bixler-Zavala has been married to actor and model Chrissie Carnell Bixler since 2009. Carnell Bixler is one of the women who accused Masterson, and while that particular charge didn’t stick, Bixler-Zavala has been publicly critical of Masterson since 2017 when he first accused him of assaulting his wife. Following Masterson’s sentencing, Bixler-Zavala expressed his gratitude on Instagram to the people who played a part in obtaining the verdict, including Judge Charlaine Olmedo and Remini. He followed it up by saying he’s working on a post listing people he doesn’t appreciate. If we do in fact see such a post, we’re sure Masterson’s name will be at the top of the list.

Debra Jo Rupp

Of course, most people will know Danny Masterson from playing Steven Hyde on the hit sitcom “That ‘70s Show.” One of his co-stars, Debra Jo Rupp, continues to play Kitty Forman on the sequel series “That ‘90s Show.” Kitty is the lovable and cheerful mother archetype, and Rupp’s response to the verdict was largely in keeping with that. Rupp was just one of multiple co-stars to write a letter to the judge asking for leniency, with many of the letters subsequently being leaked to the press. While Rupp stated that she “respect[s] the law,” she called Masterson “respectful and kind.” As for writing the letter itself, she also said that “[Masterson] would take the time to do it for [her].”

Kurtwood Smith

Almost the polar opposite to Kitty, her husband on “That ‘70s Show” Red is stern and outwardly unfeeling. However, the letter actor Kurtwood Smith wrote to the judge following the verdict was fairly in line with Rupp’s. Smith also described Masterson in good character, claiming that he “treated all women on the show with respect,” both cast and crew. It’s a pretty big departure from what Masterson has been accused of doing. And while it’s important for all of us to have friendly relations who will vouch for parts of our character, it definitely isn’t the whole story, especially when it comes to weighing outward personality against actions.

Bijou Phillips

If there’s one person Masterson wanted in his corner throughout this whole ordeal, it was his wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips. Phillips definitely gave him her full support, sticking by his side through it all. While Phillips hasn’t commented on the sentence as of yet, she did similarly write a letter to the judge. Somewhat predictably, Phillips focused on Masterson’s role as a “life-saving partner” and a “devoted father” to their daughter Fianna, who was born in 2014. Phillips also stressed how reliant she and Fianna are on Masterson, something that’s also been echoed by Masterson’s brother Jordan. Despite these concerns regarding Masterson’s absence, Judge Olmedo still felt the charges were serious enough to give Masterson the maximum sentence.

Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis

Of all the people who came out in support of Masterson’s character, “That ‘70s Show” co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have faced the fiercest backlash. And a lot of that stems from their response to the backlash. Like the others, the now-married Kutcher and Kunis also penned character letters, with Kutcher not deeming Masterson an “ongoing harm to society” and Kunis calling him an “outstanding older brother figure.” After the sentencing, Kutcher and Kunis posted an apology video, claiming that the letters were never meant to be made public, and that they apologize for potentially re-traumatizing the victims. Public response to the video wasn’t any kinder, with many criticizing the couple for not actually apologizing for writing the letters in the first place.

Amy Schumer

This one’s a little tangential, but it eventually gets there. The weekend following the Masterson sentencing, comedian Amy Schumer incidentally posted a recent photo of Nicole Kidman at the US Open and poked fun at the awkward way she was sitting. People called Schumer out online for the mean jab, and she promptly deleted the post. At this point, the Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis apology was trending, so Schumer got playful with her own apology, writing, “I will be asking the cast of ‘That ’70s Show’ to write letters advocating for my forgiveness.” That post was also promptly deleted, but when you’re as famous as Schumer, everything you put out there is immortalized.

Taryn Manning

Perhaps best known for playing an incarcerated character on “Orange Is the New Black,” Taryn Manning had some choice words for the general public after Masterson received a thirty-year prison sentence. Manning vehemently defended her friend, whom she claimed “made a mistake,” even though, in the eyes of the judicial system, he made it at least twice. More passionately, however, she criticized people for continuing to “crucify” Masterson, pleading with them to leave him and everyone else alone. In the caption to the Instagram video, Manning also criticized Kutcher and Kunis for what she views as “back-pedaling” in their apology video.

Christina Ricci

Sometimes the best way to respond to controversy is to simply pass on valuable lessons that can be learned from the whole situation. That’s what actor Christina Ricci did without naming names, even though she didn’t have to. Shortly after Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis issued their apology video, Ricci took to Instagram. She expressed that the people we know as our friends can sometimes do terrible things in secret. And as much as we want to defend their character as we know it, it’s still important to listen to people who might’ve been exposed to a different side of them. In short, Ricci said, “Believe victims.”

Ashley Hinshaw

Since Masterson’s verdict, people online have been vindicating his “That ‘70s Show” co-star Topher Grace over longtime behind-the-scenes anecdotes that the latter wasn’t incredibly social with the other actors. Some have also commended him for not falling into the trap of writing a letter appealing for the judge’s leniency. While Grace hasn’t publicly responded to the verdict as of this writing, his wife, fellow actor Ashley Hinshaw has. In an Instagram story, Hinshaw reached out to victims of assault everywhere, stating that she sees them even though most of society is more interested in what is going to happen to the perpetrator. In a case that’s wrapped up in such a high-profile celebrity, that is especially true.

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