Leah Remini calls Danny Masterson ‘dangerous rapist’ and says she's 'relieved he's off the streets’
Leah Remini has called Danny Masterson a ‘dangerous rapist’ and is ‘relieved he’s off the streets’.
The That ‘70s Show actor received a 30-year prison sentence on Thursday (8 September).
Remini left the Church of Scientology in 2013, which Masterson is a devout member of, and in August filed a lawsuit against them and its leader, David Miscavige.
The actor is citing harassment, stalking, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
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Remini attended court where Masterson was sentenced following two rapes he committed in 2003.
She issued a lengthy statement to X (formerly Twitter) blasting the rapist and the Church of Scientology.
“Sitting in court today with the women who survived Danny Masterson's predation was a surreal experience,” Remini wrote.
“I am relieved that this dangerous rapist will be off the streets and unable to violently assault and rape women with the help of Scientology, a multi-billion-dollar criminal organization with tax-exempt status.
“Hearing the survivors read their victim impact statements aloud in court while the man who raped them and some of the very Scientologists who terrorized them over two decades were just a few feet away displayed a level of bravery that I am in awe of.”
The former Scientologist added: “I will always remind the public that in Scientology if you report another Scientologist to law enforcement, you are committing a high crime. The consequences of such a high crime are devastating: you will lose everything you've ever known, from your family to your friends to your job.
“The women who survived Danny's predation fought tirelessly for justice. Their tenacity, strength, and courage have given hope to all victims of Scientology that justice is possible. For that, we will forever be grateful.”
She also thanked the judge and jury after she says she believed Masterson was able to avoid ‘accountability for his crimes’ for such a long time due to ‘Scientology, its operatives, and its criminal leader, David Miscavige’.
The Church of Scientology gave UNILAD the same statement they issued after Masterson was convicted back in May.
“The prosecution’s introduction of religion into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and affects the due process rights of every American,” the statement read. “The Church was not a party to this case and religion did not belong in this proceeding as Supreme Court precedent has maintained for centuries.
“The District Attorney unconscionably centered his prosecution on the defendant’s religion and fabrications about the Church to introduce prejudice and inflame bigotry. The DA elicited testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs and practices which were uniformly FALSE.”
Masterson was convicted of raping two women in 2003. He was also accused of rape by a third woman, a long-time girlfriend, but the jury could not reach a verdict on this count and prosecutors do not plan to retry the case.
All three accusers were members of the Church of Scientology at the time of the incidents.
Jess Battison