In the age of social media, news travels quickly. Opinions catch and spread like wildfire and depending on where your opinions lie, your biggest fans could become your biggest enemies. We’re seeing this now in real-time following the sentencing of former That 70’s Show actor, Danny Masterson. Masterson was just sentenced to 30 years to life for raping two women. The overall consensus of the internet is that Masterson was handed a fair conviction, so it’s no surprise that when two of his former co-stars wrote to the judge in support of his personal character, the internet went up in flames.
Celebrity couple and former co-stars, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, wrote to the judge character letters supporting Masterson, referring to him as a “positive influence” and “role model.” Most upsetting to the masses, however, were their personal anecdotes about Masterson having an “unwavering commitment to discouraging the use of drugs.” We’re talking about someone who was convicted of drugging and raping two women, so it’s not surprising to see that the internet is abuzz and accusing them of undermining the victim’s testimonies.
Just this afternoon, Kutcher and Kunis released a video statement addressing the reactions to their character letters in support of Masterson.
The video statements come off fairly insincere and the fact that they are doubling down on their support for Masterson despite the backlash may not bode well for their careers. When it comes to social media, there can be a steep cost to being loyal to the condemned. Ashton Kutcher is being dragged to the depths of hell on Twitter/X by thousands who are digging into and sharing his past interviews. Kutcher is seen here downplaying taking a bet from Masterson to try and French kiss a then 14-year-old Mila Kunis when he was 19.
Many clips are floating around the internet now that make Kutcher look more like an accomplice to Masterson, rather than an unsuspecting loyal friend. The one thing you can count on the internet for is some serious digging into the lives and past of anyone who shines a negative spotlight on themselves. Loudly feigning innocence of one’s character is bound to entice those who know the truth to come forward. The internet is a fickle yet unyielding place where opinions can change in a snap and once decided that you are the enemy of the people, no amount of PR or good behavior will absolve you of your perceived sin of being loyal to the damned.
