Content warning: This article discusses sexual abuse and sexual assault, which may be distressing to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.
Over the weekend, character letters penned by Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis supporting actor Danny Masterson in the wake of his sexual assault trial have surfaced.
The private letters written to Los Angeles-based judge Charlaine F Olmedo asked for leniency following the conviction of their former That ’70s Show co-star on two counts of rape. In an Instagram video released by the celebrity couple, Kutcher and Kunis claimed that the letter was “intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way.”
Now, Hollywood alum Christina Ricci has responded to their apology video with a post of her own. “So sometimes people we loved and admired do horrible things,” the Wednesday star wrote on her Instagram stories.
“They might not do these things to us, and we only know who they were to us, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do the horrible things, and to discredit the abused is a crime,” she added. “People we know as ‘awesome guys’ can be predators and abusers. It’s tough to accept, but we have to,” she continued. “If we say we support victims — women, children, men, boys — then we must be able to take this stance.”
The rest of her statement read: “Unfortunately, I’ve known lots of ‘awesome guys’ who were lovely to me but have been proven to be abusers privately. I’ve also had personal experience with this. Believe victims. It’s not easy to come forward. It’s not easy to get a conviction.”
The latter half of her post seemingly references her divorce from her film producer ex-husband, James Heerdegen, who she claimed to be a “violent abuser” in a 2021 restraining order against him.
Ricci’s pronouncement also follows a slew of damming Instagram Posts made against Kutcher and Kunis by Chrissie Bixler, Masterson’s former girlfriend, who accused him of rape.
Bixler anonymously took part in Masterson’s trial as Jane Doe #3, where she alleged to the court she was “regularly mentally and emotionally abused, and raped repeatedly” in her victim impact statement. Her case against Masterson ended in a mistrial.
Unlike Bixler, Ricci did not address Kutcher or Kunis by name. However, it’s apparent their leaked letters sparked Ricci’s statement.
Bixler has since name-checked actresses January Jones and Laura Prepon (who portrayed Donna in That ’70s Show) in her latest Instagram Story, alleging an “orchestrated meeting” took place with herself, Masterson, Kutcher and the aforementioned actresses in 1998.
Masterson was sentenced on Friday to 30 years to life in prison for assaulting two women in 2003. His other co-stars, including Wilmer Valderrama—who was the subject of Demi Lovato’s damming single “29” about their 12-year age gap and power imbalance in their relationship—or Topher Grace, have yet to speak on his conviction and sentencing.
If you or anyone you know is in need of support, visit rainn.org or call the national sexual assault hotline on 800 656 HOPE (4673). Counsellors are available 24/7.
