Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologized after writing letters of support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson, who was just sentenced to 30 years in prison.
"We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson," Kutcher said in a video posted on Instagram on Saturday (September 9), adding that Masterson's family had approached him to write a letter to "represent the person that we knew for 25 years, so that the judge could take that into full consideration relative to the sentencing."
His wife, Kunis, said, "We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future." She continued, "The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system, or the validity of the jury's ruling."
Kutcher added, "They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that, and we're sorry if that has taken place."
Kunis ended the video by saying, "Our heart goes out to every single person who's ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape."
The video can be seen below. In their letters, Kunis praised Masterson's "exceptional character." Kutcher wrote, "I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society and having his daughter raised without a present father would [be] a tertiary injustice in and of itself."
"We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson," Kutcher said in a video posted on Instagram on Saturday (September 9), adding that Masterson's family had approached him to write a letter to "represent the person that we knew for 25 years, so that the judge could take that into full consideration relative to the sentencing."
His wife, Kunis, said, "We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future." She continued, "The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system, or the validity of the jury's ruling."
Kutcher added, "They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or re-traumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that, and we're sorry if that has taken place."
Kunis ended the video by saying, "Our heart goes out to every single person who's ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape."
The video can be seen below. In their letters, Kunis praised Masterson's "exceptional character." Kutcher wrote, "I do not believe he is an ongoing harm to society and having his daughter raised without a present father would [be] a tertiary injustice in and of itself."
