*The following article contains discussion of sexual assault.
Actor Christina Ricci penned an apparent response to Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis writing letters praising their That 70s Show co-star Danny Masterson in support letters intended for the judge overseeing Masterson's sexual assault case.
In May, Masterson was convicted of raping two women at his Hollywood home over two decades ago.
The two victims were former members of the Church of Scientology. There was a third charge of forcible rape that resulted in a hung jury.
Last Thursday, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence allowed by law.
In the months leading up to the judge's decision, Kutcher and Kunis, who married in 2015 and worked with Masterson on That 70s Show, wrote letters praising Masterson to request leniency from the judge.
According to the letters, which were published online by reporter Meghann Cuniff, Kutcher described Masterson as a "role model” and someone who has had “nothing but a positive influence” on him.
Kunis, who also wrote a letter expressing support for Masterson, said he was a "good friend" and the "kind of brother others would be lucky to have."
Ricci, who played Wednesday in The Addams Family films as a child and now stars in Yellowjackets, warned that even positive role models like the one Kutcher and Kunis mentioned can be harmful to society and that “to discredit the abused is a crime.”
Taking to Instagram stories, Ricci wrote:
“So sometimes people we have loved and admired do horrible things."
“They might not do these things to us and we only know who they were to us but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do the horrible things and to discredit the abused is a crime.”
She continued:
“People we know as ‘awesome guys’ can be predators and abusers."
"It’s tough to accept but we have to. If we say we support victims — women, children, men, boys — then we must be able to take this stance.”
“Unfortunately, I’ve known lots of ‘awesome guys’ who were lovely to me who have been proven to be abusers privately."
Ricci said that personal experiences informed her statement and she encouraged the public to "believe victims."
She concluded with:
"It's not easy to come forward."
"It's not easy to get a conviction."
@riccigrams/Instagram
@riccigrams/Instagram
Ricci's story resonated with social media users.
For some people, Ricci's words hit close to home.
In response to backlash for writing the letters for Masterson, Kutcher and Kunis explained in an apology video on Saturday:
"The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling."
“They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way."
“We would never want to do that. And we’re sorry if that has taken place.”
If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, help is out there.
You can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 1-800-656-4673, use their Live Chat tool: https://www.rainn.org/get-help, or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
In Canada, help is available through the Ending Violence Association of Canada website.
International resources can be found through the Rape Crisis Network Europe website.
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