There was once a time in the not-too-distant past when That '70s Show was looked upon with gleeful nostalgia. Now, that nostalgia has been sullied by the shocking allegations made against Danny Masterson, who played the lovably sardonic Steven Hyde. Since the claims first surfaced against the Scientologist actor in 2017 (at the height of the MeToo movement), he has been arrested, charged, and is now on trial for multiple rapes.It is no secret that Masterson has long maintained a close friendship with his That '70s Show and The Ranch co-star Ashton Kutcher. But one has to wonder what Masterson's trial for these brutal alleged crimes means for the pair's friendship. Is Ashton Kutcher still sticking by his pal? Here's what we know.
10 Kutcher Has Called Masterson His BFF
Of all the celeb bromances, Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson have long shared a bond that appeared unbreakable. Kutcher has frequently praised Masterson both in interviews and on social media, calling him his BFF.
In an interview with People, he elaborated on his close friendship with Masterson: "He kept me out of trouble. He taught me how to have fun without getting myself too far out, and he's one of my best friends in the world." Considering the criminal charges against Masterson, these comments have aged pretty badly.
9 Masterson Featured All Over Kutcher's Instagram, But Now The Tributes Have Stopped
Prior to the allegations, there was no celeb who featured as prominently on Ashton Kutcher's social media accounts as Danny Masterson. There is a seemingly endless series of posts dedicated to Masterson on Kutcher's Instagram.
However, the posts stopped once Masterson was first publicly accused of sexual assault in 2017. It is unclear whether this signifies an end to the pair's friendship or a mere superficial attempt by Kutcher to evade controversy.
8 The Alleged Crimes Occurred During The Filming Of 'That '70s Show'
Now that Danny Masterson is on trial after being charged with raping 3 women, many hitherto unknown facts about the alleged crimes have surfaced. Among the most damning is the revelation that the alleged sexual assaults were committed when Masterson was filming his most famous role.
The crimes are reported to have occurred in 2001, early 2003, and late 2003, at the height of Masterson's That '70s Show fame.
7 Fans Think That Kutcher Must Have Known
Since we now have a timeline of Masterson's reportedly predatory behavior, fans are wondering how the actor could have kept his criminal tendencies a secret from his BFF. Accordingly, some have suggested that it is increasingly likely that Kutcher knew.
One Reddit user wrote, "Kutcher IS friends with a rapist. I mean, they're such good friends Kutcher was in Masterson's wedding. You really expect me to believe Kutcher had no idea his friend is a rapist? Kutcher has been spotted at the celebrity center, so he's at the very least Scientology adjacent..." It should be noted, however, that many criminals are perfectly capable of concealing their true identities from their nearest and dearest.
6 Kutcher Knew All The Alleged Victims
One of Masterson's accusers is Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who released a powerful open letter to Ashton Kutcher: "Shut up and listen as we recount the most vicious, degrading, and humiliating acts committed on us by your pal Danny Masterson... You knew all of us women. You and I were friends. So please do shut up and listen. Then it's on you whether you continue to remain silent, but let's be clear here, silence protects the abusers. Never the abused."
Another alleged victim, who remained anonymous, clarified that Kutcher personally knew the accusers, telling The Daily Beast, "Ashton personally knew each victim. I appeared on an episode of Punk'd, I rushed him in my car to make a flight after he finished a That '70s Show episode. And he knew the others as well. If Ashton doesn't believe women he knows -- we should think he really supports women? #IBelieveHer?"
5 Kutcher Has Refused To Make A Statement Regarding The Allegations
One of the biggest indicators that Kutcher is still supporting Danny Masterson is his outright refusal to make a public statement regarding the shocking allegations. What's more, Kutcher hasn't once hinted at his friend's trial, seemingly erasing their long-term bromance from history.
But, as is the case in the age of social media, the public never forgets and subsequently won't be letting Kutcher off the hook for his silence.
4 They Were Seen Hanging Out Together In 2019
In a damaging turn of events, Ashton Kutcher was seen partying with Danny Masterson in 2019, at the height of his pal's disgrace following the rape claims. Tony Ortega obtained photos showing the actors palling around at a Scientology wedding in Napa Valley, which was also attended by Kutcher's wife, Mila Kunis. Ortega reports that Kunis attempted to keep the gathering a secret.
The wedding's seating chart shows that the couple was sat right next to Masterson and his wife, Bijou Phillips, which is testament to their enduring alliance.
3 Masterson Paid Tribute To Kutcher As Recently As 2020
Last year, Danny Masterson posted a birthday tribute to Ashton Kutcher, who he referred to as "dear Kutcherrrrrrrrrrrr", which is presumably an in-joke between the pals. Just one month earlier, Chrissie Carnell Bixler alleged that Scientologists had poisoned her pets after she made claims that Masterson sexually assaulted her, so a number of people saw the light-hearted post as somewhat inappropriate.
Meanwhile, others viewed the post as proof that Kutcher still supports Masterson. In a comment directed at Kutcher, one user wrote, "@aplusk are you really still buddies with this r a p i s t? Man, I thought you had some integrity left in you."
2 The Accusers Are Calling Out Kutcher's Apparent Hypocrisy
Ashton Kutcher is the founder of Thorn, an anti-sex trafficking charity, and he is also an advocate of the MeToo movement. This has led Masterson's alleged victims to accuse Kutcher of hypocrisy for his refusal to call out his friend.
As reported in News Week, Masterson's accusers have taken aim at both Kutcher and Mila Kunis: "As much as I applaud them for standing up for women, I am left confused and heartbroken as to why they refuse to stand up for all the women they know who have been violently raped by their friend Danny Masterson."
1 It Is Believed That They Are Secretly Still Friends
Despite having been written out of The Ranch, many feel that this was an empty performative gesture, as Masterson retained executive producer duties following his firing. Accordingly, it is generally believed by fans and accusers that Kutcher is not ready to cut ties with his disgraced pal.
If found guilty, Masterson faces 45 years in jail, which is essentially a life sentence for a 45-year-old man. Only time will tell if Masterson is found guilty, and only time will tell whether Kutcher will continue to stick by him.