In a recent development, actor Ashton Kutcher has announced his resignation as chairman of the board of Thorn, an organization he co-founded in 2009 with his then-wife Demi Moore. Thorn aims to combat child sex abuse. Kutcher's decision comes in response to the backlash he faced for supporting fellow actor Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape.
Kutcher acknowledged the historical silencing of sexual abuse victims in a letter to Thorn's board. He admitted that his statement in support of Masterson was a mistake and questioned the credibility of victims who bravely shared their experiences. After several days of reflection and conversations with survivors and Thorn's leadership, Kutcher concluded that stepping down as chairman is the responsible course of action.
Mila Kunis, Kutcher's wife and an observer on Thorn's board, will also be stepping down from her position. Last week, Kutcher and Kunis faced criticism for writing letters asking for leniency in Masterson's sentencing. Masterson, who co-starred with Kutcher and Kunis on "That '70s Show," was ultimately sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison for raping two women.
Kutcher and Kunis have since apologized for their support of Masterson, but their involvement with a charity focused on stopping sex crimes while also supporting a convicted sex offender posed a significant dilemma. In his resignation letter, Kutcher expressed his deep regret for betraying victims of sexual assault and the Thorn community. He remains proud of the organization's accomplishments and will continue to support their work.
While Kutcher's decision received some praise on social media, it also drew criticism from one of Masterson's victims, Niesha Trout. Trout pointed out that Kutcher and Kunis failed to apologize to all of Masterson's victims and called them fraudulent beings.
Ashton Kutcher's resignation highlights the complexities and challenges faced when supporting a charity dedicated to combating sex crimes while simultaneously supporting a friend convicted of such crimes. The situation underscores the need for accountability and a deeper understanding of the impact of one's actions on survivors of sexual abuse.