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Topics: Ashton Kutcher, Celebrity, Crime
Ben Thompson
Topics: Ashton Kutcher, Celebrity, Crime
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologized for writing a letter of support to Danny Masterson during his rape trial.
The celebrity couple had previously voiced their support in a letter for their That '70s Show co-star.
In the letters, Kutcher lauded Masterson as a 'role model' and claimed that he was instrumental in keeping Kutcher away from 'the typical Hollywood life of drugs'.
While Kunis claimed that her former co-star had 'exceptional character' and said she could 'sense his innate goodness' when she first met him.
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However, the couple have since apologised in an Instagram video released on Saturday (9 September) in which they explained their reasons for penning the controversial letters.
Masterson has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the rape of two women that were said to have took place in his home in 2003.
Talking of the letter's impact, Kutcher said: "We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson."
Kutcher and Kunis both reiterated that they support victims who come forward.
According to Kutcher, the letters were written as a favour to Masterson's family.
The Punk'd creator said: "A couple months ago Danny’s family reached out to us and they asked us to write character letters to represent the person that we knew for 25 years, so that the judge could take that into full consideration relative to the sentencing."
Kunis added: "The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling."
The couple claimed that the letter was never intended to go public and apologized if their words had hurt Masterson's victims.
The Butterfly Effect star said: "They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way.
"We’d never want to do that, and we’re sorry if that has taken place."
Kunis then ended the video by saying: "Our heart goes out to every single person who’s ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape.”
When the letters went public, the couple were hit with backlash.
Many took to social media to slam Kutcher and Kunis, with one person remarking that they were 'not good people'.
Masterson had also received letters of support from Giovanni Ribisi, William Baldwin, Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, among others.
He was best known for his role as Steven Hyde on That '70s Show, which ran from 1998 to 2006.