Ashton Kutcher resigns from his anti-child sex abuse charity amid outrage over support for rapist Danny Masterson
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'That 70s Show' star Ashton Kutcher has stepped down from the board of his anti-child sexual abuse nonprofit organization Thorn after facing backlash over his controversial 'character letter' in favor of convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
Ashton's wife Mila Kunis, who was an observer on the organization's board of directors, has stood by her husband's decision and has let go of her own position in the organization too.
Kutcher co-founded the nonprofit organization in 2012 with his ex-wife Demi Moore.
Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison
Masterson was accused of raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003, NBC News reports.
Earlier this year, in May, he was convicted on two of the three forcible rape charges and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
This is the second time that Masterson has stood on trial for similar charges, with the first trial being held in November 2022.
The 'That 70s Show' star maintained his innocence throughout the course of the trial and was supported by his wife, the actor and model Bijou Phillips, who was seen crying in court after the verdict was delivered.
During the course of the trial, Kutcher penned a 'character letter' for his former castmate Masterson, asking the judge to be lenient in his sentencing.
Kutcher immediately found himself on the receiving end of intense backlash which eventually led to him resigning his position at Thorn.
In his resignation letter, Kutcher stated that he would not let his "error in judgment" distract attention from the efforts of the organization.
He further added, "Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences."
Ashton Kutcher co-founded anti-sex trafficking org Thorn
Kutcher co-founded Thorn along with his ex-wife Demi Moore almost a decade ago in 2012.
According to their official website, the organization was born after the founders came across a documentary illustrating the rampant child sex trafficking in Cambodia and identified the gravity of the problem.
Is Demi Moore still a part of Thorn?
Moore and Kutcher divorced in 2013. However, the two have since then continued to work for the organization they co-founded and Moore reportedly continues to provide for victims and survivors of child sex trafficking without using the platform to further her own individual interests.