News Analysis India

Tag: Ashton Kutcher

  • Actor Danny Masterson’s wife seeks divorce after his rape sentence

    By AFP

    LOS ANGELES: Actress Bijou Phillips filed for divorce from Danny Masterson less than two weeks after the former “That ’70s Show” star was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for raping two women, US media reported Tuesday.

    The model and singer cited “irreconcilable differences” in her petition in a California court, celebrity news website TMZ reported.

    Masterson, found guilty in May of raping the two women in 2001 and 2003 at his home in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, was sentenced on September 7 to 30 years to life in prison.

    The 47-year-old US actor, who has one child with Phillips, will not be able to seek parole until he is 77 years old.

    Phillips is seeking full custody of their daughter, aged nine, with visitation rights for Masterson, TMZ reported.

    Her lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment by AFP.

    ALSO READ | Ashton Kutcher quits as chair of anti-sex abuse organisation after Danny Masterson ‘support letter’

    Phillips had stayed with Masterson through his two trials — the first was declared a mistrial last year after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.

    The jury in the retrial deadlocked on another rape charge against a third woman. That charge was dismissed.

    Masterson rose to fame with the 1998 launch of retro sitcom “That ’70s Show,” where he played the character of Steven Hyde alongside fellow stars Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher.

    He co-starred again with Kutcher on Netflix’s “The Ranch,” but was fired in 2017 and written off the show after Los Angeles police confirmed they were investigating multiple rape allegations against the actor.

    The three women at the heart of the charges against Masterson were members of the Church of Scientology at the time. Two of them said church officials had discouraged them from contacting law enforcement.

    LOS ANGELES: Actress Bijou Phillips filed for divorce from Danny Masterson less than two weeks after the former “That ’70s Show” star was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for raping two women, US media reported Tuesday.

    The model and singer cited “irreconcilable differences” in her petition in a California court, celebrity news website TMZ reported.

    Masterson, found guilty in May of raping the two women in 2001 and 2003 at his home in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, was sentenced on September 7 to 30 years to life in prison.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The 47-year-old US actor, who has one child with Phillips, will not be able to seek parole until he is 77 years old.

    Phillips is seeking full custody of their daughter, aged nine, with visitation rights for Masterson, TMZ reported.

    Her lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment by AFP.

    ALSO READ | Ashton Kutcher quits as chair of anti-sex abuse organisation after Danny Masterson ‘support letter’

    Phillips had stayed with Masterson through his two trials — the first was declared a mistrial last year after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision.

    The jury in the retrial deadlocked on another rape charge against a third woman. That charge was dismissed.

    Masterson rose to fame with the 1998 launch of retro sitcom “That ’70s Show,” where he played the character of Steven Hyde alongside fellow stars Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher.

    He co-starred again with Kutcher on Netflix’s “The Ranch,” but was fired in 2017 and written off the show after Los Angeles police confirmed they were investigating multiple rape allegations against the actor.

    The three women at the heart of the charges against Masterson were members of the Church of Scientology at the time. Two of them said church officials had discouraged them from contacting law enforcement.

  • Ashton Kutcher quits as chair of anti-sex abuse organisation after Danny Masterson ‘support letter’

    By Associated Press

    LOS ANGELES: Ashton Kutcher has resigned as chairman of the board of an anti-child sex abuse organisation that he co-founded after he and wife Mila Kunis wrote letters seeking leniency for their former ‘That ’70s Show’ co-star and convicted rapist, Danny Masterson.

    Kutcher stepped down from the board of Thorn, an organisation he founded with then-wife Demi Moore in 2009, on Thursday, the group said in a statement.

    “After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning, and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as Chairman of the Board, effectively immediately,” Kutcher wrote in a letter to the board.

    “I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve.”

    A Los Angeles judge sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison on September 7.

    The actor was convicted in May of raping two women in 2003, when he was starring on the Fox retro sitcom ‘That ’70s Show’ with Kutcher and Kunis.

    The day after the sentencing, letters to the judge from Kutcher, Kunis and many others were made public.

    In Kutcher’s, he called Masterson a man who in his experience had treated people “with decency, equality, and generosity”.

    Kutcher and Kunis apologised the next day in an Instagram video for writing the letters, which Kutcher said “were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatise them in any way.”

    Kutcher said in his resignation letter, first reported by Time magazine, that he offered “my heartfelt apology to all victims of sexual violence and everyone at Thorn who I hurt by what I did.”

    LOS ANGELES: Ashton Kutcher has resigned as chairman of the board of an anti-child sex abuse organisation that he co-founded after he and wife Mila Kunis wrote letters seeking leniency for their former ‘That ’70s Show’ co-star and convicted rapist, Danny Masterson.

    Kutcher stepped down from the board of Thorn, an organisation he founded with then-wife Demi Moore in 2009, on Thursday, the group said in a statement.

    “After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning, and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as Chairman of the Board, effectively immediately,” Kutcher wrote in a letter to the board.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve.”

    A Los Angeles judge sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison on September 7.

    The actor was convicted in May of raping two women in 2003, when he was starring on the Fox retro sitcom ‘That ’70s Show’ with Kutcher and Kunis.

    The day after the sentencing, letters to the judge from Kutcher, Kunis and many others were made public.

    In Kutcher’s, he called Masterson a man who in his experience had treated people “with decency, equality, and generosity”.

    Kutcher and Kunis apologised the next day in an Instagram video for writing the letters, which Kutcher said “were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatise them in any way.”

    Kutcher said in his resignation letter, first reported by Time magazine, that he offered “my heartfelt apology to all victims of sexual violence and everyone at Thorn who I hurt by what I did.”

  • Ashton Kutcher cast opposite Reese Witherspoon in Netflix’s ‘Your Place or Mine’

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: American actor Ashton Kutcher just signed up for his first rom-com film in 10 years.

    As per People magazine, the 43-year-old actor has been cast alongside Reese Witherspoon in the upcoming Netflix film ‘Your Place or Mine’. The movie is about two best friends living on opposite coasts, who swap houses for one life-changing week.

    Kutcher is most known for his leading man roles in romantic comedies like ‘No Strings Attached’, ‘What Happens in Vegas’, ‘A Lot Like Love’ and ‘Just Married’.

    His last turn in the genre was the star-studded 2011 Garry Marshall ensemble feature ‘New Year’s Eve’, starring opposite Lea Michele. He’s since come off a four-season run of his Netflix series ‘The Ranch’, which aired its finale last January.

    Aline Brosh McKenna wrote the screenplay and will make her feature directorial debut with the film. Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter are co-producing under the actor’s Hello Sunshine banner, alongside Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan’s Aggregate Films and their first-look deal with Netflix. McKenna will also produce through Lean Machine.

    The casting announcement comes one day after Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine sold for USD 900 million to Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer, with the backing of private equity firm Blackstone. She and CEO Sarah Harden will continue to run the company and remain equity holders while joining the board of the new company.

    In addition to producing ‘Big Little Lies’, ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ through the banner, they’re currently working on ‘Where the Crawdad’s Sing’ and ‘Legally Blonde 3’, from a screenplay by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor.

    “Today, we’re taking a huge step forward by partnering with Blackstone, which will enable us to tell even more entertaining, impactful and illuminating stories about women’s lives globally,” Witherspoon said of the deal.

    “I couldn’t be more excited about what this means for our future. I am committed to continuing to create opportunity for filmmakers, authors and creators of all backgrounds and experiences to tell their stories in their own way, and to reach more audiences who will see that their stories matter,” she added.

    The Academy Award winner has starred in several of her Hello Sunshine titles, and she’s previously served memorable performances in ‘Wild’, ‘Walk the Line’, ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Cruel Intentions’. 

  • Ashton Kutcher, Reese Witherspoon team up for ‘Your Place or Mine’

    By Express News Service

    Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon are set to join forces for a romantic comedy titled, Your Place Or Mine. The film, which is currently in works at Netflix, will mark the directorial debut of screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, whose writing credits include The Devil Wears Prada, We Bought a Zoo, 27 Dresses, Annie, and Cruella.

    Your Place or Mine follows two best friends on opposite coasts who see their whole lives change when they swap homes for a week. Netflix is yet to announce the release date of the film.

    Your Place or Mine will mark Kutcher’s full-fledged starring role in a feature after Jobs in 2013. He was most recently seen in the comedy-drama series, The Ranch, which ended in 2020, and will also be seen in Vengeance, directed by BJ Novak. On the other hand, Witherspoon has Where the Crawdads Sing and Legally Blonde 3 in her upcoming slate of releases.