Danny Masterson's lawyer denies claim 'That '70s Show' star and Bijou Phillips were living apart for 5 years before divorce
LOS ANGELS, CALIFORNIA: Bijou Phillips, 43, and Danny Masterson, 47, who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping two women, had been living separately since 2018, according to court documents obtained by Daily Mail.
However, the 'That '70s Show' star's lawyer has denied the claim, according to PageSix.
The actress, who supported her husband throughout his trial, revealed through the court documents that their nine-year-old daughter Fianna had been staying with her in Santa Ynez, California for the last five years.
Were Bijou Phillips and Danny Masterson living separately before divorce?
Bijou and Danny who got married in 2011 welcomed Fianna in 2014. Court documents as per the report showed they lived together in their $6.2 million Hollywood home for the first four years of their daughter’s life.
But they sold that five-bed, four-bath Moorish mansion for $6.2 million in 2021. Phillips also said that she filed for divorce from Danny on September 18.
However, Danny was reportedly seen at the same home before he was convicted on two counts of rape in May.
The outlet noted, that he occasionally visited the Santa Ynez home before he was sent to prison, but it was assumed that he and Bijou were still a couple.
Danny Masterson's lawyer denies claim he was living separately
Peter Lauzon, Danny Masterson's lawyer told Page Six that the reason the 'That ’70s Show' alum is not listed as living in the court documents with his client and Fianna is simply because he is currently not living there “at this moment.”
When asked if Masterson was living at the Santa Ynez location until he went to jail, the attorney responds, “Yes, of course he was.”
The divorce papers stated that their date of separation was “TBD” and that the reason for the divorce was “irreconcilable differences."
Bijou also requested spousal support and attorney fees from Danny and asked to change her legal last name back to Phillips.
She sought “legal and physical custody” of their daughter, but agreed to “allow visitation for Danny." The divorce filing came as a surprise to many.
Bijou Phillips had no plans for divorce
People reported previously that Bijou had “no plans” to divorce Danny. “She has had a very difficult time since the conviction,” the source told the publication.
“She loves Danny and has no plans to file for divorce. She will be by his side for it all.”
Bijou’s lawyer, Peter A Lauzon, told TMZ in a statement aimed at divorce news that “Ms Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time. Her priority remains with her daughter."
“This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. Mr Masterson was always present for Ms Phillips during the most difficult times of her life. Ms Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter,'' Lauzon added.