Ashton Kutcher Supports a Rapist: Friendship, Misogyny or Blackmail?

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ABOUT: Rebecca Watson is the founder of the Skepchick Network, a collection of sites focused on science and critical thinking. She has written for outlets such as Slate, Popular Science, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. She's also the host of Quiz-o-tron, a rowdy, live quiz show that pits scientists against comedians. Asteroid 153289 Rebeccawatson is named after her (her real name being 153289).
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[@RebeccaWatson]

I didn't have a good place to mention this so if you're wondering about the rest of the main cast of That '70s Show: Topher Grace: GOOD Laura Prepon: NO LONGER A PRACTICING SCIENTOLOGIST Wilmer Valderama: EXCLUSIVELY DATES TEENAGERS, CREEPY AS HELL "Fun" aside: in Debra Jo Rupp's letter supporting Danny Masterson, she points out that he was the only one to show up for Wilmer Valderama's high school graduation. That's actually not a great look in retrospect, Debbie!

[@EwMatias]

​@@keithdf2001What the hell? No! If I found out a friend of mine is a rapist they would be an ex friend.

[@margaritap.9459]

​@@keithdf2001no, "we" wouldn't. You're obviously a completely morally corrupt person though and I doubt the company you keep is any better, yikes

[@marymac3572]

​@@keithdf2001I cut out a family member when I learned he was a serial child molester. From the day I learned about it, he was dead to me. If I found out another relative was a rapist or abusive, they'd be dead to me, too. If someone is an abuser, at the bare minimum don't defend their moral character.

[@transitorri7794]

@@keithdf2001 I wouldn't. Someone I know turns out to be a rapist, everyone would know about it, and I'd shutter that "friendship"

[@wcraiderevo8078]

You held back on this.

[@jamesrule1338]

Dear Aston Kutcher, we would have preferred if you had taken drugs rather than befriend and defend a rapist.

[@jaybee4118]

Tbh, with the hints at stories we’ve heard about those two going out to clubs back in the day… kinda wouldn’t be surprised if someone isn’t sitting on their own sad story involving him, even if he’s not aware he did it. I’ve had my own experience where I know for sure the guy doesn’t realise how much he violated me and wondered why I ghosted him, but that’s another story. I can’t blame anyone for not going public though, not with how all these women get treated. I just have to keep reminding myself, it’s better than when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s. It’s just a shame we’re still so far away from it being actually better.

[@catsaresocute650]

That one is so true

[@a.a9021]

@@JonathanKeller666 What's wrong, Jonathan?

[@matthuck378]

Smoking weed, like they faked on That 70's Show, is definitely a much healthier hobby than rape. I hope this isn't controversial, but I bet it is to many people...But probably not to people who watch this YT channel.

[@T.E.S.S.]

wow you seem triggered. feeling a little defensive for some reason, Johnny? @@JonathanKeller666

[@beyondallmeasure]

"Get a less rapey friend" ... absolutely. As an abuse survivor and an advocate, I've seen a lot of people defend the abusers.

[@markwilliams2620]

​@@markprice5651 Yes, it is. JFC.

[@revspikejonez]

​@@markprice5651yeah, don't defend rapists

[@ddewittfulton]

There are certain crimes I might overlook in a friend, but rape, murder, kidnapping... I'm turning my back. Whatever I had assumed about that person was clearly wrong. I mean, would you START a friendship with a rapist?

[@caseyw.6550]

​@davidfulton179 And would you leave a convicted rapist alone with your young daughter?! Fuck to the no. And ashton's dumb ass straight up said he would. Just unbelievable.

[@caseyw.6550]

Just make sure that new friend doesn't do DRUUUUGSS!!! 😱😱😱

[@iriandia]

Wild how people could say drugging and raping someone is a "mistake." No, me backing into a parking sign and messing up my fender is a mistake. Completely different categories of stuff you can wake up and do with your day. jfc

[@kwarra-an]

TWICE, too!

[@DavidWestwater-vq6qy]

I don't know cardi b did it many times

[@Acidfunkish]

Some of the creepiest dudes I've ever encountered were the types to openly fantasize about "saving" girls or women from sex trafficking, always through the use of violence. And usually, almost entirely because they wanted someone who would feel indebted to them. I understand that a lot of guys are fed the savior narrative, to the point that it becomes an intrinsic part of who they think they are... but it's still a little weird, to me.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

It's not like men who show an outward concern for social justice for women but secretly abuse the same women they publicly claim to support is a new thing, unfortunately. I dated one for two of the worst months of my life, nearly 20 years ago. He ended up moving state, his reputation in my community got so bad. Social justice warrior can be a great front for someone who privately gets off on power games and getting away with crossing boundaries (and way worse).

[@justinthor5438]

To my knowledge, the number of women I've abused is a steadfast 0. I definitely have had the fantasy of what it would be like to save people, and it's definitely weird. I can't say anything about the idea that whomever I saved would be indebted to be, but it's a really interesting thought. I think that when I was younger, I just wanted to be able to have done something. Something I could recall and point at as proof that I'm worth it, whatever "it" was. But now you got me thinking about any time I've tried to be helpful, have I, on some level, a it as a "favor" which might prompt reciprocation? Good lord, I hope not. Being dumb sucks.

[@sptony2718]

The only thing they should have done was to NOT write a letter. How can someone fail at doing NOTHING?

[@iamjustkiwi]

True, but also I appreciate when bad people work extra hard to prove just how unrepentant they are and clear up any ambiguity.

[@idontwantahandlethough]

Oh my god, right?! It's so easy to do nothing! And it feels _A M A Z I N G._ Ashton Koootcher (I can't help but say his name in an exaggerated version of his voice) is really missing out on the joy of doing nothing 🤗

[@GSBarlev]

Best case scenario: they're being blackmailed by Scientology.

[@tanyas6643]

@@GSBarlevI suspect their either “down low” members of the church themselves, or they have “important (other) friends” that are and could make their (professional) lives difficult. (Scientology is very influential in Hollywood.)

[@vincentdaniels2596]

Its ridiculous how many people are being caught for doing something when they could have done nothing and been fine. Especially since their letters were never going to sway the judge in a serial rape case.

[@habeashumor9814]

It is particularly heinous that Kutcher and Kunis mention drugs in their letters, because the reasonable inference is that they are disputing the factual findings in the case - i.e., arguing that Masterson couldn't possibly have drugged women, because he hates drugs. Not only is that a shady thing to do, but it's also nonsensical. Just because a person never uses recreational drugs themselves doesn't mean they won't use date r*pe drugs on someone else. Moreover, Masterson wasn't exactly straight edge, since he was known to consume alcohol at least.

[@BenjaminBattington]

"Your honor, he simply could not have stabbed anyone. He HATES being stabbed."

[@LarsBlitzer]

In the context of Masterson, as someone who has been brought up in the cult of Scientology he would be adamantly opposed to pharmaceuticals in general, and psychiatric pharmaceuticals in particular. Him spiking drinks to assault women is entirely on brand for a predator like him.

[@sarajuanaict]

Yeah I heard he was in prison hospital for chronic alcohol withdrawal treatment

[@caseyw.6550]

And isn't the role he is most known for is being the "pothead friend"?? That's ironic.

[@jaybee4118]

I saw a denfence lawyer talking about it actually. It’s fascinating because she said she’d have never allowed them to mention that, nor the bit where one of them says they’d trust him with their children. All it does is give the judge a reminder of what he’s been convicted of! I don’t think it was on purpose on their part, but sometimes I do wonder if defence lawyers let little things slip through when they really hate their client and know they’re guilty… and I suspect Masterson is probably particularly easy to hate when he’s not trying to charm you.

[@taylorgayhart9497]

“Everyone deserves a second chance.” *Yes, AFTER they face consequences.* “What if it was you’re friends?” *They wouldn’t be my friend anymore, I believe in surrounding yourself with people who align with your morals.* “He made a mistake.” *Yes, one he will repeat unless we hold him accountable.* “They weren’t defending him, they were just sharing their experience.” *And asking for the judge to go light on his sentence, placing his life over that of his victims.*

[@Tijggie82]

He made a conscious decision to rape people. That is a crime, not a mistake.

[@Nassifeh]

The thing to me about "sharing their experience" is that they didn't frame things like "he was a friend who must have lost his way, he has done good things as well as bad things, and we want the chance to help him be a better person in the community instead of incarcerated". I wouldn't actually have faulted them for that, really. The problem is that the letters boil down to "he's a great guy, upstanding member of the community, good influence". These are not just individual experiences; they're statements of universal fact about his personality that are directly contradicted by evidence *beyond a reasonable doubt*. Whether they really believe these things are true or they lied, then it is actually a sign that they themselves are dangerous to the community. At best, they are catastrophically bad judges of character who are easily taken advantage of by predators.

[@catsaresocute650]

Actually no rapists don't deserve second chances and rapists who raped serveral people are probably the only less deserving people. But that chance goes for everyone who's not commited serious bodily violance against others ofc

[@icedirt9658]

@@catsaresocute650 Hot take apparently, but anyone who makes an effort to change deserves a second chance, period. That’s even if there wasn’t evidence that everyone basically changes enough as a person to basically be several different people in one lifetime. This mentality of “lock them up and throw away key” is damaging. They cannot make the bad things they did not have happened by being punished. Punishment appeals to our desires for vengeance but makes society weaker. Not to mention that in many cases in recent history, the person that was locked away was later proven innocent. Even if 100% of convicted rapists were rightfully convicted, It’s really dumb to assume none of them can learn and become better people. Shame on you.

[@catsaresocute650]

@@icedirt9658 No, they do not deserve an inkling of a second chance

[@dinosaysrawr]

The irony of Mila Kunis' letter reading like she "grew up speaking English" is that she did not, in fact, grow up speaking English. (That's not a dig on Mila Kunis, to be clear--quite the opposite, in fact! Rather, the intended dig here is on the American educational system.) It's not at all surprising when people resist, deny, or rationalize away disturbing revelations about someone they happen to like, respect, or care about, but it's certainly disappointing, and doesn't serve the ultimate cause of justice. "My friend is a good person who made a mistake and has always been a good friend to all" should be mainly reserved for 16-year-olds who set off a firecracker in a Porta-Potty or who spray painted the side of the old abandoned mill, and not sexual, financial, or other predators who did what they did with malice aforethought and full intentionality.

[@AnnaEmilka]

I think it's pretty common for non-native speakers to have better grammar, spelling etc. than native English speakers, because we (myself included) had to consciously learn the language instead of just living with it from birth

[@dinosaysrawr]

@@AnnaEmilka , exactly! ESL learners have have to learn the language brick by brick, from the bottom up!

[@ninjadolphin01]

I would call moving to the US and learning English at 7 "growing up speaking English"

[@dinosaysrawr]

@@ninjadolphin01 , fair point! I couldn't remember when she officially started learning English, and just knew it wasn't her first language.

[@Erinski]

I worked closely with this guy that made a horrible job fun. He was hilarious. We spent time together a couple times after work, we'd trade DVDs, asked to be paired up at work, etc. As soon as I saw he was in the news being arrested after being accused of sexually abusing children, he and I were done. I saw him on the registry after that. I can't imagine ever writing to a judge, trying to get him a lighter sentence, because there were other things I liked about him. Danny Masterson either has dirt on these people, or they're fucking delusional.

[@MommyOfZoeAndLiam]

Agreed, also what is the point of these letters, is the judge supposed to be like, “Well you are well liked by your friends, so less prison time for your crimes”? Or is it secretly supposed to seem intimidating if a lot of famous people write in? It just seems incredibly weird and sketchy and should not be allowed or should they also get letters from the victims asking for a harsher sentence? How about their friends or relatives or doctors claiming how emotionally affected they were and how he should get a harsher sentence for his affect on the victims and their friends and family? Like the sentencing guidelines for the crimes are there…..use them. I can see maybe for petty crimes or non violent drug charges having friends show support for probation/commuted sentences/drug programs etc. Maybe explain how someone is a parent and how having them in prison could negatively affect children and asking for leniency for cases where it didn’t directly harm another person or with extreme circumstances that could be considered, but this is ridiculous!!!!

[@vforwombat9915]

@@MommyOfZoeAndLiam "Agreed, also what is the point of these letters," you know the point, you explain it below. to put the man in a more complete context. for whatever reason, Kushner's friends seem to be having difficultly reconciling who they see with what he did. i'm not sure this is something to criticize them over.

[@zefugainspe]

​@@vforwombat9915Aaron Smith-Levin from Growing Up In Scientology has been breaking down all those things. He's really worth watching, especially regarding this case!

[@MommyOfZoeAndLiam]

@@vforwombat9915 “to put the man in a more complete context” seriously? So because someone is well liked by coworkers and people he’s in a cult with, the punishment should be lessened? Mother Theresa or Murderer, the crime should be punished, especially in crimes of violence and SA. Charles Manson was well liked and Dahmer was described as charming. Child molesters and serial abusers are often “upstanding members of their community” who ingratiate themselves with the victim and their families and even forming friendships with the victims closest friends and relatives and convincing them that the victim is mentally unstable. And in this case, the people supporting the convicted rapist are part of a community of wealthy and influential people (many LITERALLY PART OF A CULT) who don’t want their own secrets spilled when Masterson needs something to leverage for a recommendation to the parole board in 10 years. The man was convicted of the sexual assault of multiple women and not just a situation of convenience finding someone inebriated at a party, but the pre-meditated drugging and violating of these women. There is no amount of “he’s my friend” that takes away the severity of the choices he made to do those things.

[@SuperPegMeg]

Watch any documentary on Scientology, that's literally how the church retains their members. They have the deepest, most foul secrets hanging over people's heads and use that constant threat to keep them in the church.

[@JoeMagician]

I remember for years that public opinion was that Topher Grace was a weird guy, ostracized by the cast of the 70's show and didn't really interact with them. And the reason being that he left the show to develop his film career and just wasn't cool enough for the rest of them, the group mostly built around Masterson and Kutcher. Does seem glaring now in retrospect the conviction on Masterson, Laura Prepon also being in scientology and dating Masterson's brother for years, Kutcher's litany of misdeeds you mentioned, Kunis seemingly groomed by Kutcher (does makes you wonder about how Jackie ended up dating every guy on that 70's show except Eric), and Wilmer's love of dating teens and love of Danny Masterson in particular. Really seems to be going the other way, that Topher probably had the good sense to distance himself from a group of co-workers who were out of control and getting worse as fame and money were shoved at them as well as the Church of Scientology actively recruiting among the cast members. Good for Topher, this makes me think much more highly of him and his decision making. Wonder if this will eventually kill that 90's show as well, this is going to be a lot of bad press and maybe division among the returning cast members from the original.

[@antonioarroyas7662]

Topher came from a well respected family and had a good education. He knew trouble when he saw it and made the right moves to distance himself from it.

[@zuglymonster]

Topher saw what was happening the bad behavior and the Scientology crap and didn't want anything to do with it. Good for him for not allowing the way they made him seem "not cool enough for them" to make him feel like he needed to fit in. I'm almost positive this will be the end of the 90s show. It wasn't doing well from what I heard anyway, honestly I thought it had already been cancelled but now I remember there's a strike so maybe that's why I hadn't seen anything about it, but now that this has come out and people are PISSED I don't see the show lasting. I don't know how all came back, but I know Topher is the only one who didn't write a letter for him I think,

[@jrojala]

I always really liked Topher Grace- he has a good vibe and I like his comedy and acting style. I’m glad he is a good man and that he stayed out of the cult drama on set.

[@dimplesd8931]

I’ll bet scamintology worked hard to try to get Topher. His family has money and connections. When Danny couldn’t get him he triangulated him to freeze him out of the cool kids group.

[@wearwolf2500]

"Get less rapey friends" - Good life advice

[@potts995]

The myth of meritocracy in American society gets harder and harder to maintain each day

[@anonymes2884]

I don't see it going away though, it's essentially _the_ foundational brick in the US national mythology (because if you work backwards from "They deserve to be there" you get to "So if I work hard i'll get there too [and it's _my_ fault if I don't]").

[@azteclady]

On the caring about children being sexually assaulted: it may be important to note that Kuchner went on to French kiss Mila Kunis on camera--when she was 14 and he 20--on a dare from Masterson. And then he went public with how nervous *he* was and how "cool" she was. Because sure, Jan, she was the one with the experience and power there. Sure. From where I sit, Kushner, like so many other wealthy and well-known people, wants the cachet of being associated with "protecting the children!"--while doing nothing good for children and furthering the abuse of women and other marginalized people.

[@KuopioKallavesi]

20 years old is still a child, adult people know this.

[@dinosaysrawr]

Qcumbers scream about children being shipped in armoires so that they can be ritually sacrificed to Cthulhu for their adrenochrome on Epstein's island, but the reality of Hollywood's toxic culture of predation at multiple levels is much less "glamorous" and much more mundane.

[@TheYasmineFlower]

@@KuopioKallavesi A 14 year old is legally and ACTUALLY a child. If a 20 year old goes after a 14 year old, they are doing something bad.

[@azteclady]

Only rapists and their apologists think that a 20 year old going after a 14 year old is excusable by saying that the 20 year old is "still a child". That is a six year difference in age and experience, in case math is hard for you.@@KuopioKallavesi

[@BlackShardStudio]

@@KuopioKallavesi ...wow. Well that's certainly a take. Context, bud. Context.

[@witchflowers6942]

the whole caring about children but not grown up victims(or people who are NOT victims and are insisting as much) is so real for so many people.

[@rogerbrimner6836]

I can’t help but notice how similar the Republican party is to Scientology. The victim made me do it, and all that bs. So “Conservative”…

[@LimeyLassen]

Well, cults tend to protect abusers, and abusers tend to have solidarity with one another. It makes sense.

[@CobraDove1111]

YOU are in a cult if you still believe in the left/right political party SCAM, it's two wings of the same bird, and you vote your power away to have other men rule you

[@cyrollan]

It's similar to the MAGA movement. Those who don't align totally with all the tenets are deemed outcasts (RINO)

[@doblepollodoblequeso]

sorry, no. not at all. don’t be fucking insensitive

[@azarisLP]

"The rapist convicted for drugging women and I used to hang around with a lot of drug users" is some kind of a defense.

[@jaybee4118]

Probably partly why it didn’t work!

[@azarisLP]

@@jalapenofarts There's a vast difference between "self-medicating with illegal drugs out of despair" and "hanging out with (affluent) people involved in drug culture".

[@tyguy104]

His character letter is bizarre. 5 paragraphs staunchly defending his anti-drug methodology. And then the last paragraph, "Well I know he's been convicted of R, but..." I'm sorry did you just say but.... There's a but... here? Wow. No those two things: D and R are two different things. Apples and oranges

[@liamobrien1839]

Reading Demi Moore's account of her relationship with Kutcher squicks me out about Kutcher's whole thing. Now learning about how he was around Mila on set makes me think he has more in common with Masterson than he is letting on.

[@marymactavish]

Like him and Danny joking about Ashton sticking a tongue down her fourteen-year-old throat the first time they kissed on set, which was her first kiss ever?

[@KattReen]

Well, I have long suspected that Kutcher is actually a creep trying to hide behind performative virtue, so I can at least appreciate that I don't have to afford him the benefit of the doubt anymore

[@zugabdu1]

If his friends and cast mates had simply expressed shock, or even grief at finding out that their close friend was a rapist, I'd get it. That's a lot to process and I don't expect people to turn on a dime emotionally in that situation. What does gall me is to be self-centered enough to think that the fact that he's your personal friend and confidante is a reason he should face a lesser sentence for committing multiple rapes - as if it's about you. It also beggars belief that in the post-Cosby world that anyone would think that a rapist who drugs women would never put on an anti-drug persona.

[@MsSonali1980]

The thing is, tho, they aren't surprised, they knew all along. They are trying to save their own faces. That they only could be friends with some perfect, harmless, squeaky clean friend.

[@annak8755]

I just found you and I found the dry sarcasm sublime. And yes, it's ironic how problematic people feel that donating less than 1% of their income for a worthy cause somehow makes them less guilty.

[@zairac2564]

You all remember wondering "what's up with Topher that he's not hanging out, and friends, with his castmates?" Well... Great job Topher!

[@juicyparsons]

The worst thing about this is they dont even acknowledge that Danny might have made any type of mistake. They dont even allow him to be a flawed human. It's %100 he's a saint which is even worse towards the victims

[@daintycaked]

This one hit me hard bc I love Ashton & Mila. But also knowing Giovanni Ribisi ALSO wrote a letter?! And then the ppl who played erics parents?! Ugh. As I said, the only one we can look back at fondly is Topher Grace. Good job for being a decent human being, Topher.

[@seanallen3948]

Giovanni is a big time Scientologist, so I’m not surprised. They protect their own.

[@Sunnybunnypi]

Have you considered maybe not falling into parasocial relationships with celebrities? It’s exactly why so many of them get away with bad behavior for decades.

[@amoureux6502]

​@@Sunnybunnypiit's important to learn to separate celebrities from friends but that doesn't mean you can't get upset when they turn out to be terrible. We're humans. We tend to gravitate toward people we think we like.

[@TheCatsWhiskers76]

As a rape survivor I wanted to say THANK YOU for not using euphemistic language to describe this heinous crime.

[@hellaradusername]

Even if Kutcher's doorknob story is accurate that looks really bad, if someone makes a date with you and they're not answering their door or phone and you see a lot of mysterious red stains inside the house through the windows (it's also kind of weird that you'd look, but still) why would you shrug and go with it, like even if no crime occurred she could have been injured in some kind of household accident and lying on the floor dying.

[@ranbummerz729]

Kutcher has been typecasted as an air-headed himbo. It's perfectly "in character"

[@ruminationstation4200]

I always thought the story was so weird but it never even occured to me he was trying to not be the one to find her. It makes so much more sense actually than "oh i saw a bunch of red wine all over the floor from the window"

[@LimeyLassen]

The red wine thing sounds like "they're gonna ask me about the blood, I need to account for that in my story" because a normal person wouldn't knock on their friends' door, see wine spilled all over the carpet and be like "Huh, that's funny" and turn around and go home.

[@Nassifeh]

Lots of people in reality will freeze up when confronted with something genuinely horrifying. It's awful but it happens? But it's a much bigger stretch to say that you just froze up and couldn't deal with it and then immediately went to talk to your PR people.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@Nassifehgoing to a party and acting as if nothing has happened isn’t freezing up.

[@tomdebevoise]

It seems like Kutcher is culpable for multiple crimes here: false statements to police, failure to report a felony, conspiracy to deceive, and so forth. If I were him, I would be scared sh*tless because that tweet plus more than one pissed-off law enforcement officer, should (rightly) lead to a discussion with the prosecutors.

[@MsSonali1980]

I really hope so. That killed woman deserved better than being let down by her then boyfriend. Dude seems not the smartest decision maker. He finds a murder victim and only idea he has is to call his management and friend, telling him what to do. Irony is, he is, in the letter, defending one of the people that led him into making that bad decision, lying to the police. They all really deserve each other.

[@georgemetcalf8763]

Oof, after the video, I think Indy's segment should be longer. Thank you, though for the hard video. Really bummed about the Kitty and Red. I really like that couple.

[@empressmarowynn]

A few years ago I found out someone I had been good friends with all growing up, who was even my prom date, was arrested for having CP. Like found with tons of it on his computer and he admitted to it. There's no way in hell I was about to defend his character. I was disgusted. Screw him, he may have been as decent as he seemed when we were younger but he later decided to do some very reprehensible things and there's no way I'd stand up for him now. Hope he gets what's coming to him.

[@Paint_The_Future]

That Scientologist Show.

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

The funny part is that Kunis didn't grow up speaking English... My favourite part of Kutchers letter is when he says "Danny has never lied to me"... Oh good, set him free judge.

[@aud7593]

it's giving very "oh but he was never mean to ME, so he can't ever have been"

[@alicekravets8584]

Mila came to the US when she was 7, so she did grew up speaking English, even if it wasn't her first language

[@paahl1572]

Some stories came out about my childhood best friend being abusive to women. Not like physical abuse, but definitely emotional abuse and stuff like that. I immediately distanced myself from him. He eventually committed suicide and I was flushed with guilt because he’d tried to reconnect with me a few months before he took his own life, so in a way I completely understand defending your friend. But at the same time these are some serious accusations against Masterson are kinda hard to ignore. Whether they are in denial or just flat out ignoring them is hard to say. Can’t say we’ve all been there and for sure we cannot know how Danny’s friends feel. However I find it hard to believe that they didn’t see or know anything. It’s like we all knew someone who had a reputation for whatever and we thought to ourselves “I haven’t seen anything like that from them” but the moment we do it kinda clicks. I’m not sure what my point is. I try not to judge people because we don’t know all the facts, but this is one of those situations where it’s safe to say Danny Masterson is a rapist and he’ll be where he belongs for a while. May his victims find comfort in that.

[@MzShonuff123]

Having read “Going Clear”, this video made sense to me within the confines of that world. The book is…a lot. Since Scientologists (and all other cults) work hard to get people to open up so they can use that info as leverage to blackmail dissenters later, I do believe they may have something on Ashton Kutcher, though I also just think he’s always been douchey and likely always been a rape apologist.

[@lloroshastar6347]

I think we really need to go harder on cults and culty behaviour. Yet another member of the Church of LDS was convicted recently for abusing her own kids, it keeps on happening but the media seems to be comfortable only attacking trans people and drag acts, even when they're innocent

[@mikececconi2677]

With that many Scientologists involved, it's probably blackmail.

[@transitorri7794]

Kutcher is such a disappointment. I wanted to think he was out there doing good only to turn around and be mask off like this. What morals does he even stand on if he's anti-trafficking but stands in defense of a rapist? What moral foundation are you even standing on at that point? Nothing consistent that's for sure.

[@EwMatias]

Ashton Kutcher has been an Uber investor and promoter from very early on.

[@idontwantahandlethough]

I mean FWIW, his anti-trafficking efforts might do more harm than good. That organization he and his ex-wife started is kind of trash, and there's been a good number of solid articles written about it if you wanna look (in essence though, they made software that helps police track sex workers without their consent.. I think you can imagine how that likely gets used. In addition, it appears that the vast majority of their efforts have been spent fighting against *_adult_* sex workers, not children. It appears that they're not making anyone's lives easier, except maybe the police :/ ). Edit: oh lol, Rebecca said all of that nvm

[@ruminationstation4200]

​@@EwMatiasright, i have NEVER understood why he got social capital from being an investor in software sold to cops like it makes him a personal martyr for the cause.

[@lloroshastar6347]

Well I've noticed these days a lot of people who claim to be anti-trafficking only feel that way when it implicates someone they don't like or if its tied to the QAnon conspiracy theory.

[@Leticia-uv1ne]

Right on

[@Andrewbert109]

Don't you dare apologize I am here for this so much. Especially for Masterson getting 30 to life.

[@NihilisticSnake]

I expect to see Ashton's entire dirt sheet be brought to light in the coming days, what with it being apparent that he may've groomed Mila all those years ago things could likely snowball from here. Also rocking that flannel fit 👌👌

[@RebeccaWatson]

Yeah, I decided to not mention anything about Mila's past because while she's clearly an awful person today, and she was likely groomed and abused by Kutcher and Masterson, she doesn't think she's a victim and it's her story to realize and tell.

[@trustjah]

Happy your spreading this info to your audience. People need to know. No free pass for rapists or their supporters.

[@allytrudie864]

Thorn is a software company. Ashton is a huge Silicon Valley investor. Software companies can be hard to spot and seem like the product might be something else (example: Uber ). Ashton is a major investor in the software and the face. One of the uses for this software is finding child trafficking and that is how they market it. Ashton being a celebrity is the perfect face for the company and as part of a marketing strategy started a non-profit. Ashton doesn’t care about child trafficking- he cares about governments buying the software to fill his pockets (oh but it’s a do-gooder thing right? But he’s making MILLIONS in being an investor). So take what that what you will. Also be wary of companies nowadays and ask if they are a software company. Many think Uber is a ride share company- it’s a software company first hence why it is run so terribly. I’m sure the software is also sold into other business verticals besides sex trafficking.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

Not the face any more, though, I gather: last I heard he and Mila have just stepped away from representing the company/non-profit. Do you think this means he'll also step away from his financial gains?

[@kennethhymes9734]

Child of abusive person here. He was more or less found out, kept his high profile career, in fact he got a better title and a raise. Years after his death, his painting came down, and it all came out. At home, we thought he was only shi**y to us. Turns out it was everywhere. Gaslighting, and the despair that comes from truth not resulting in consequences... i am deeply familiar with these feelings. I don't really celebrate carceral outcomes intrinsically, but this one it is pretty tough not to. And the context is BACKsliding in safety for women generally and trans women in particular. So yeah, thanks for being forthright about all of this here.

[@segamai]

But also Ashton Kutcher is a predator and the entire production behind that 70s show was in on it. NO-ONE talks about it; the fact that everyone knew Mila was FOURTEEN when she auditioned and had an on-screen physical relationship with an adult man, who she is now married to. And now STILL everyone treats it like a cute story instead of the vile case of child abuse it is

[@gago198]

Thank you, Rebecca. Your take is spot on! Sadly, I‘ve seen so many people making excuses for Kutcher and Kunis, like how, of course, they would stand by their good friend, and couldn‘t possibly believe someone they were close to could’ve committed such atrocities. Completely ignorant of the fact these two trash humans wrote the letters after their rapist friend had already been found guilty. Some folks have no principles. And it’s also made me realise how many people consume media in a totally superficial way. It‘s all feels and zero facts. I wish people would take more time to research the actual facts of a story. Or at least watch a video before leaving completely unqualified comments. Anyways, I’m so glad Masterson was convicted and that those pathetic letters had no impact on his sentence. At least not the intended one. I hope his victims can find some kind of peace now and start healing as far as that is possible. They‘ve been incredibly strong and brave. And kudos to the judge too. Excellent verdict, and good of her to not take any shit from Scientology.

[@gago198]

​@@markprice5651 , I was just repeating what other people have said in defence of Kutcher's and Kunis' actions, not what they said themselves. Considering the letters were written after the guilty verdict, had they claimed to not believe in his guilt would have been even worse. And most likely a blatant lie. They've known Masterson for a long time, and they know him well, and at least some of his victims too. They know exactly what kind of horrible POS their dear friend is.

[@FinalSeraphLeo]

Season 2 of That 90's Show is getting pretty damn crazy. In seriousness, though: this whole scenario brings up the moral conflict if you can enjoy an actors works even though they are a bastard. Shout out to Topher for being the only one to really take a stand

[@NekoMouser]

I never really "got" the appeal of Kutcher or Kunis, but I wasn't really against them, either. They just were and I didn't care. But when I heard they'd written letters in support of Masterson, I was fairly pissed. Maybe because I would never do that for someone--no matter how close they were to me--if they'd been found guilty in court of multiple counts of rape. At that point, you are essentially dead to me. But I passively knew Kutcher had claimed some work around sex trafficking and being an advocate for victims, so it was particular shocking to hear he took Masterson's side. An I'm sorry, but you simply CANNOT simultaneously say "we believe and support victims" AND "dear judge, please give this multiple rapist a lighter sentence than you normally would because they were nice to me one time." I had no idea about most of this other stuff, like a murder trial, but jesus...we need to stop making horrible people famous already.

[@Gumbyloomy]

Omg thank you for bringing up the problems with Thorn as well!!!! So many ppl blindly support it without looking further into it, I hope all this brings more attention to that.

[@EricaGamet]

Wow, this took me to places I didn't think we'd go. When I heard Ashton and Mila had written letters (but didn't know the content), I was already thinking, "Oof." It's possible for someone to have had a great relationship with someone they thought was a decent person and to find out they did something so terrible would be a great shock. But to write a letter asking for leniency, or even provide a character witness statement is awful. If I had a friend that I truly was shocked to discover they had committed such acts, I would just wash my hands of them and remember the good times we had together. And probably have to go to therapy to make it make sense.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

I was actually initially confused by the extent of the backlash against them, mistakenly believing they had submitted their opinions of character on request BEFORE conviction - back when the first trial took place. When I found it was AFTER, and as a plea for leniency in sentencing.... yeah. "Oof" alright. At that point all the guy's lies have been made clear. No respect for the justice system.

[@dearyvettetn4489]

Kutcher’s concern in his letter that Masterson would de-friend him for using illegal drugs while he can’t seem to do the same for an actual rape conviction is giving such pick-me energy.

[@zuglymonster]

The way he implies using drugs is worse than being a violent rapist just angers me as both a rape victim and a recovering addict. I'd rather be called a stupid junkie a million times than be a violent rapist who mocked his victims and harassed their children.

[@youtubeuserremainsanonymou9022]

told partner about the claim of Kutcher asking Masterson for advice in the panic after seeing dead body. His response: Why is Masterson capable of giving advice on covering up finding a dead body? The potential blackmail seriously creates more questions abut Masterson than Kutcher. A 23 year old Kutcher freaking out over a dead body is very different from someone else knowing what story to craft

[@SciHeartJourney]

I'd lke to point out that Ted Bundy had a family. At first, they didn't believe he was a monster either. They wrote letters on his behalf too. Ted didn't attack them because that would have led to his immediate arrest and capture. He only PREYED UPON vulnerable STRANGERS that had no meaning to him. Comparing Danny Masterson to Ted Bundy; priceless! 😂

[@--Animal--]

It's not shocking that Kunis and Kutcher would do this considering they've been on conservative news shows talking about how everything is "woke" and terrible now, seems to be a common trend with conservatives to not care about SA victims. Also that god awful video he made about George Floyd showed me that this man has no concept of what life is like when you're not privileged.

[@jaybee4118]

It’s an even more common trend lately for them to not truly support SA victims while supporting bad and even idiotic, dangerous organisations like THORN or especially the latter in the organisation featured in Sound of Freedom. The kind of organisations that cause more harm than they prevent.

[@cyrollan]

I'm a glutton for punishment, I have to watch his Floyd video. Also... those two are too young to be anti "woke", but nothing surprises anymore.

[@Du-Masses]

@@cyrollanno such thing as being too young to be ani-woke.

[@Bonaboo]

@@cyrollanbro what

[@lewisb85]

There was a tv psychologist talking about the Lucy Letby case mentioning the concept of "blinded by friendship" where letby's friends couldn't comprehend her doing something evil because of how they viewed their connection with them. I wonder if that's what's happening here Ashton and Mila can't comprehend Danny doing what he did due to their previous relationship with him.

[@wingracer1614]

This is exactly what it is. It has nothing to do with thinking rape is ok or anything like that, it has everything to do with them not being able to believe their friend could do this. I'm not saying that makes them right or that it's ok, just that that is what they think about it. It's very, very hard to believe that people we know and love are capable of doing evil. I know this very well as I have faced a similar situation. It's easy to say what you would do when you haven't faced it yourself (note that is a generic "you" not you yourself).

[@wunnell]

Yeah, if you accept that someone you know, like and even look up to has done something heinous, you can't help but wonder what that says about you and your judgement. Some people are prepared to perform the necessary introspection and learn something while others opt for denial.

[@dinosaysrawr]

"This person couldn't be racist/a rapist/a Karen/a jerk/a thief because they've always been nice to ME" is an all-too-common phenomenon.

[@larissabrglum3856]

There was an incident in my hometown where two brothers conspired with their mom to murder their dad. The two guys' friends, otherwise intelligent people, came to their defense and claimed it wasn't possible, despite the absurd amount of incriminating evidence. It was frustrating to watch.

[@tmtb80]

If you look into the stories of the victims in the case and the other victims who have spoken up, it is almost impossible that Danny's wife and closest friends and siblings didn't know. They were often there, in person, in the same house, in adjoining rooms, etc. This wasn't a once in a while habit, it seems, nor something he had to keep secret.

[@DarkExcalibur42]

Today's topic highlights the importance of getting to see Indy at the end of a video. Dear god, who doesn't need a puppy after that.

[@yehooyahoo6861]

Danny bet Ashton to French kiss Mila when she was 14. They’re all a basket of forgettables.

[@daintycaked]

it seems like, from watching these interviews with Mila everyone is posting, that she was really bothered about what was going on on the set as she was just a child. I wonder how she makes that make sense in her mind now with this. Cognitive dissonance.

[@GSBarlev]

That must be what Chrissie Bixler was referencing in the bottom of her post (the part Rebecca didn't read bc it wasn't salient). I feel sorry for her-or, at least, as sorry as one can feel for a multimillionaire celebrity-but all of this means I won't be so bullish about, for example, her getting a guest spot on a _Trek_ show (she's a huge trekkie and regularly tops listicles of celebrities who "deserve a chance" to guest on _Star Trek._

[@yehooyahoo6861]

@@daintycaked in my mind she was quite literally groomed, and the purpose of grooming is to make the victim comfortable and normalize it. I agree, she’s probably compartmentalized it.

[@moonlily1]

"If I were to do drugs, he wouldn't want to be friends with me." But he can do rapes and Kutcher still wants to be friends with him? Wasn't the moral Danny was trying to teach that your friends influence your behavior and reflect your own standards? Maybe he should think about extrapolating on that lesson.

[@brendanfalvy1281]

Can we stop using character references for ANY legal proceeding that involves violent or abuse or exploitative behaviour please? It is absolutely zero gauge of a person’s propensity to dehumanise and harm others. Regardless of how shitty the people who actually write the references might be, it puts them in an awful position of having to choose between defending someone they have known for years, and invalidating real victims. These people are in no position to know that because their friend didn’t do drugs and was an affable and polite dinner host that they couldn’t possibly have assaulted a person. It’s a terribly misogynistic device in cases like this and needs to be unceremoniously scrapped. It’s sexist and classist

[@JazzMaven]

Great job with really tough material, Rebeca. Thanks for your excellent work.

[@Labergemusic]

I kind of rolled my eyes when I saw this video (it's been covered) but once again you go to depths that I was not at all aware of. Great content on a real shitty topic.

[@paulacoyle5685]

So, I would think that the families of those people that the killer murdered after Ashton’s girlfriend/date, they could maybe bring a wrongful death lawsuit against Ashton for obstruction of justice?

[@katerrinah5442]

"what if it was your friend/family member????" I found out 5 years ago a favourite family member was abusing his wife. He is out of my life, and I am supporting her in their divorce. It's been really shitty to discover and I've needed a lot of therapy but I can't fathom taking his side or even defending him in court. Fuck that.

[@soulvigilante]

I've worked with several anti-trafficking government agencies and NGOs that make zero distinction between consensual adult sex work and trafficking.

[@andrewfarrell6120]

"Amazon's facial recognition software ..." that phrase in and of itself is creepy as f**k and - holy s**t - how is Sean Penn not in prison and still has a career?

[@lkf8799]

Back then the victim had to press charges, which was incredibly dangerous for them so most didn't. That's why they changed the law so the state can press charges without the victim having to fear as much about retaliation. Victims also have a lot of shame and self-blame and everyone makes a lot of excuses for men, especially when under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It was still a shock to hear though. Madonna is a badass. I can't picture her helpless. Insane he didn't face any consequences.

[@gypsyvegan]

LOVE seeing Violet Blue's work cited here! Her reporting on sex work and infosec has been so crucial, and not enough people have seen it.

[@SciHeartJourney]

Thank you for covering this Rebecca. In my opinion, if someone is supportive of a KNOWN @$$hole that makes them one too. I'm really disgusted when I read that the most prominent cast members of That 70's Show wrote letters of support for him. I can't even get JOB REFERENCES from most of my ex-coworkers! 🤦‍♂ This is something that really does impact my life. Many jobs keep asking for them. It's disgusting that theyse creeps think they can write to the JUDGE thinking it was "For His Eyes Only". We should FOIA those letters to see just how CREEPY they are.

[@habeashumor9814]

Not the whole cast. Grace and Prepon did not. (Valderrrama didn't either, but he sucks for other reasons.)

[@80sgirl9]

The letters are part of the case & many content creators have published them.

[@joeyj6808]

Kind of like the saying, "If nine people sit at a table with a nazi, there are ten nazis at the table" True, and sad.

[@Dradeeus]

When you teased how unsettlingly child-like Kutcher's letter would be, I wasn't prepared for how true it was.

[@habeashumor9814]

It's probably all three. If Kutcher was able to be blackmailed, it would only be because of his friendship with Masterson and complicity in Masterson's many acts of misogyny.

[@gago198]

Maybe watch the video first. Rebecca does explain what kind of dirt Masterson and Scientology may have on Kutcher.

[@SciHeartJourney]

I'm a GenX, so all That 70's Show cast members are kids to me, except for the parents. I'm disappointed in the whole cast, especially with the OLDER ones that should know better: Kurtwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp really upset me more than the MORONS Kutcher and Kunis. But what really hurt me was to LEARN the truth about Sean Penn:💔🤦‍♂ And I believe that story too!

[@op3129]

kutcher is 45 - so gen x same for topher grace. danny masterson is 47. not kids. not now, and not then: they were in their 20s for That 70s Show first season. penn has always been slime

[@hillside21]

Not the whole cast of the show sent letters of support. No Topher Grace, no Wilmer Valderrama, and no Laura Prepon, a (former?) Scientologist. Everyone who said Masterson was an anti-drug mentor should be forced to listen to the testimonies of his victims who were drugged and assaulted.

[@jaybee4118]

Yeah, the stories about Penn have been around a long time. I’m always surprised when people don’t know about them, but that’s why he still gets work and is still popular :( (Not that I’m saying you’re a terrible person for not knowing, sometimes these things just don’t filter through, especially the older stories that have been just around for years. I’m surprised at new to me old stories all the time)

[@SciHeartJourney]

@@op3129, thank you I wasn't aware of that. That means they're even BIGGER @$$holes than I had imagined.

[@SciHeartJourney]

@@jaybee4118, I don't really follow these movie star @$$holes. I live in Los Angeles. They normally just want to be left alone, until they want fame and money.

[@Lost-Lilim]

Having as much leverage as possible over members is a core practice of Scientology. I'm quite sure they'll exert leverage over non-members when possible.

[@FallenGemini]

I don't get why Ashton Kutcher was praised as some sort of great intellectual and humanitarian decades ago even when he cheated on Demi Moore and hosted Punk'd? Despite his role in That 70's Show, Kutcher never strikes me as smart.

[@ninskdesign]

I followed this entire trial and I am SOOO glad you covered why all the “drug-free” talk in those letters was such a slap in the face because it might seem like a benign statement if you didn’t know the details of the case. Shoutout to A-A-Ron! His was the coverage I followed throughout and is the most reliable channel for those who want to understand how dark this case truly is. Holding out hope for the ‘to life’ in the sentencing, the man is a misogynistic menace and Ashton looks different when you understand who his ‘bestie’ was.

[@LiterallySerge]

BLACKMAIL IS SCIENTOLOGY’S SPECIALITY

[@GSBarlev]

I clicked this video figuring it would be along the lines of Wil Wheaton defending Chris Hardwick or all the people who attacked Anthony Rapp for speaking out about Kevin Spacey, but _wow._ They don't deny the allegations or try to spin it as he said / they said-this is *pure* "But judge! He was nice to me! That's got to count for something!"

[@geoffpoole483]

As well as "We're famous actors!"

[@ciskaverster6979]

The shit we learn about people and organisations at the cost of women's broken bodies and lives. The blood of the martyrs man.

[@cdavidcvalencia]

considering that it seems that some celebrities do exactly the things the foundations they support are supposed to prevent my guess would be that they are supporting them only for the PR

[@britsaunders2151]

As a survivor of sex trafficking myself, I do really hope one day we get people who talk about our needs and listen to our experiences that actually care. The people who bring up sex trafficking the most seem to do it for some odd political reason, whilst at the same time voting to strip away all the resources we need to re-enter society. I actually once sent Ashton a short letter thanking him for using his status to talk about trafficking for reasons other than political gain. It really breaks my heart to know that the aftermath- what survivors really need help with- is not something he seems to care about. Off topic, but I have a feeling scientology was over their shoulder writing those letters considering how much focus was put on "but he doesn't do drugs."

[@SciHeartJourney]

Awesome to post Mila Kunis' letter to the judge at 4:18 into this video. 👍❤️ to Rebecca for saving us the FOIA request!

[@Mordrevious]

‘I know him as a nice person’ isn’t fucking helpful. Just cause somebody is nice *to you* doesn’t mean a goddamn thing when evidence piles up that they are, in fact, not a nice person.

[@gabriellethomas8803]

I feel like Ashton has been trying to lay the groundwork for defending Danny for a very long time. In 2018 or 2019 he spoke at a summit held here in Utah and he talked all about how people shouldn't be defined or judged for the worst thing that they've ever done it was very anti-cancel culture. Yucky

[@OuryLN]

The Masterson posse was so tight, Topher Grace, the outsider, left the TV series.

[@bodhimind108]

I've been meaning to say, for a while, that I appreciate your decision to end all of your videos with footage of your beautiful doggo. The spiritual cleansing is much appreciated.

[@quasinfinity]

Love the apology at the end. Very Canadian to passive aggressively intimate regret for something you had no control over, just incidental awareness.

[@spirit.ofthe.harvestmoon]

4:32 Ashton Kutcher has been told to have an IQ of 160 Yeah...As if we didn't need another reminder of how IQ is bs

[@shaystern2453]

that's him and his brother combined

[@CarrotConsumer]

That's only using Hollywood as a comparison.

[@LimeyLassen]

He forgot to convert it to Celcius.

[@markpmar0356]

No apology necessary. I like the way you get into a story like a dog at the throat of a rat. This vid should be posted to Kutcher's social media pages.

[@fatedtolive667]

That they defended him is no surprise, even really good people defend really bad people, as I found in my work. I've long concluded that, it isn't so much that they're defending the obviously indefensible, but rather, that they're defending themselves-their emotional investment-in that person, meaning it's a really self-centered/self-serving reflex. Rape! It's something I've never been able to emotionally process, even as I grasp the psychological mechanisms of the act, simply because, everything which makes sex a positive experience is absent before, during, and after the act. As I said, I understand the whole, power from degrading others thing, but still. Even worse than rape though, is the idea of drugging someone in order to rape them, which, to my mind, is just one step short of necrophilia, and this, when you think on it, suggests that this type of rapist is very likely to devolve into full necrophilia, via unaliving the victim. It may be that, for the sake of future victims, life without the possibility of parole, may have been the better outcome. Can you imagine if, just for instance, a convicted sexual abuser, with a penchant for selling pardons, ever became president? Sheer fantasy of course.

[@theriffwriter2194]

My children know no matter what my love and support for them is unconditional. If they clawed out my eyes I'd get over it in a week. With the exception of a sex crime or a crime against a child!

[@jamiegallier2106]

Appreciate you (and your deep dives) so much!❤

[@Jordanmode]

One of the very unnerving things I don’t like thinking about is that it’s a statistical certainty that a friend of mine has sexually assaulted a woman, possibly several. This could be a friend who has been consistently wonderful part of my life, and a good influence. And if I were to find out about said friend’s assaults, I don’t see how I could possibly write a letter pleading for leniency. This person hid a horrible side of themself from me. Their solid friendship towards me doesn’t somehow even out the harm they did to their victims. No. Sentence this person appropriately. They need to take accountability and face Justice. How could I ask otherwise?

[@kasroa]

I'm assuming the reason why both letters are so weirdly focussed on drugs is because of how paranoid he would have been about them finding stuff out about him. I imagine the thought process is something like: "Don't hang out with those drug-takers...they might let slip one day that they hooked me up with date-rape drugs" So yeah, it is telling just how keen he was on dictating to them about drugs. He wanted to keep that part of his life separate from his friends.

[@caseyw.6550]

I'm so glad people are calling this bullshit out. It's completely unacceptable and makes me irate!

[@Luninareph]

Thank goodness for the Indy chaser at the end. Phew... this was a wild ride all right O_O

[@MommyOfZoeAndLiam]

The idea of Ashton Kutcher seeing that woman dead and still going to a party and lying about it is just awful. And I really don't understand why he would do that (not saying he didn't, just that I don't get it) like why would you not IMMEDIATELY call the cops, if anything it makes you look less guilty and they can tell how long someone has been dead and they can confirm if you have blood on you or other biological evidence of you being part of the crime. Like to me, I would be MORE suspicious if someone said they showed up to pick someone up, they didn't answer the door, they peeked in the window and saw "red stains" and thought it was wine? Blood does not look like wine unless it is just a very tiny amount that is OLD and turned brownish, but large amounts of blood are hard to mistake for anything, even oxydized blood....anyway, I don't know how he could manage to be at a party without seeming like a basket case AND to me it would be MORE SUSPICOUS that he showed up very late, without her, and was acting weird. Plus wouldn't phone records show him sitting at her house for an hour? I would have been way more suspicious as a detective if that came out.

[@d20Fitness]

Glad we had Indy at the end. Needed that for recovery

[@nowthenzen]

Thanks! Truth lives with Rebecca

[@RebeccaWatson]

Thank you!

[@TrueYellowDart]

Is Topher the only main 70’s Show person that has escaped being some level of problematic?

[@havanaradio]

the most upsetting thing is how much clout actors have. just why? why are actors paid more than writers? broken system. extremely weird.

[@aaronwinegar9724]

Because the general public will flock to watch a show with terrible writing and hot people. See every 'reality' show ever.

[@joeyj6808]

This whole situation is stomach-turning. What is it about Hollywood that make people extra-scummy?

[@geoffpoole483]

Hollywood has a long history of this sort of thing. The Fatty Arbuckle scandal dates back to the 1920s/early 1930s.

[@v.caveda]

I once lost who I thought was my closest and truest friend because after two of his victims emerged it would be stupid and against my own morals to NOT denounce him. Did it really really hurt? Yeah. but HE was the one who betrayed the trust of not only his victims but everyone who held him in high esteem like me. HE was the one who hurt people and HE was not the person who needed my support. Two girls we both had positions of authority over were. I have sympathy, but it's inexcusable. "Get a less rapey friend," indeed.

[@nobiggeridiot]

nothing like some positive reinforcement about the virtues of fellow humans, while waking up with a morning coffee .... sigh

[@letahamilton]

😂 I listened to this at 2x speed which made it even rantier in the best possible way. Brilliant take down.

[@mm-yt8sf]

i saw an interview with kutcher where he said he supports a company using data it has on customers to get dirt on the customer if the customer is a reporter who's looking into unflattering stories about the company because...it's just fair. in this case he's an investor in uber so that put me off uber if it has guidance like that. ugh... imagine if credit card companies decided to use purchase information to blackmail reporters investigating them. what a wonderful world 😕

[@thomasdjonesn]

I can't imagine. I think about some of my close friends over the years, and the great relationships and the mutual benefits. So to have it come out that not only they were credibly accused, but found guilty, I'd be devastated. I'd be angry. I'd feel guilty that I never knew, and never picked up on it.