Ashton Kutcher resigns as chair of anti-sex abuse group amid Danny Masterson controversy

Ashton Kutcher resigned from his post as the head of Thorn, an anti-sex abuse organization that he founded along with his ex-wife Demi Moore.

This is in response to the massive backlash the actor and his wife Mila Kunis received after it was revealed that the couple wrote letters to the judge supporting actor Danny Masterson during his sexual assault trial.

The Masterson Ripple Effect

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis face criticism for backing Danny Masterson, their co-star from the hit series "That 70s Show."

This was followed by an apology video by the couple explaining their actions but did not go down well and was mostly seen as a PR attempt to save face.

Also Read: From the 70s Show to jail: A complete timeline of Danny Masterson's rape trial 

In his statement, the actor said “After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning, and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as Chairman of the Board, effectively immediately. I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve,”

In response to the resignation, Thorn board member Suzanne Bell showed support for the actor, noting that “his unwavering dedication and commitment to Thorn throughout its journey have enabled the organization to become the leader that it is in the child safety ecosystem. It has been my privilege to join him on this mission.”

Co-Star Loyalty Controversy

Currently, Danny Masterson is facing a minimum of 30 years in prison for two counts of rape. The first complaints against the actor appeared in 2017 and charges were officially brought against the actor in 2020.

The actor and the Chruch of Scientology of which the actor is a long-time member were also sued by the victims for trying to silence them threw threats and intimidation.

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