In the modern world, it is not surprising that allegations against perpetrators surface after two decades, and they still face the punishment they deserve. While it isn’t true for everyone, at least a scant few victims succeed in obtaining justice from the law.
Danny Masterson, who played Steven Hyde in That ’70s Show, is recently charged with sexual allegations by his victims, three of whom were a part of his Church of Scientologists, while two others, Chrissie Carnell Bixler and Bobette Riales, had previously been in a relationship with him.
So, what’s going on with Danny Masterson’s sexual allegation case currently, and what was his role in That ’70s Show? Read on to find out.
Danny Masterson’s Initial Allegations and Final Verdict
As discussed above, the allegations initially came to light in 2017 but were rendered hollow due to the lack of evidence. However, later the same year, a fifth woman came forward and claimed that she was in a relationship with Masterson, and he repeatedly raped her in the early 2000s.
Although the actor maintained his innocence ever since, in June 2020, he was charged with raping three women, although the court disproved the other two due to insufficient evidence and statute of limitations.
In 2020, Jackie Lacey, the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, announced that Masterson could face up to 45 years to a life sentence in prison if he is proven guilty.
After nearly three more years, Masterson has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after a long-conducted investigation by LAPD since 2017. District Attorney George Gascon read a statement before sentencing. He stated,
“This has been a long and arduous road for the victims of Mr. Masterson. They not only survived his abuse, they also survived a system that is often not kind to victims.”
Who Are the Victims in the Case? Who Did Danny Masterson Rape?
The first victim was a woman born into a Scientology family and one of Masterson’s friends. In 2003, she said that when she visited his house to pick up his car keys, he drugged her with a drink and raped her in his bedroom upstairs.
Although she filed a case against him the same year, it did not lead to an arrest, which prompted her to try again in 2016 when other victims finally mustered up the courage to seek justice.
The second victim was a model and actress who was in a relationship with Masterson from 1996 to 2002 and even testified that he was physically and sexually abusive during their years together.
Meanwhile, the third victim was a teenager who had joined the Church in 2003, and shortly, she was invited to Masterson’s house, leading to another forceful intercourse in his house.
As mentioned above, the other two victims, Chrissie Carnell Bixler and Bobette Riales, also dated Masterson back in the early 2000s.
What Was Masterson’s Role in That ’70s Show?
While Masterson has been known for his many other roles, including Milo Foster in Men at Work and Rooney in Yes Man, his most famous work is arguably That ’70s Show.
The actor played the role of Steven Hyde, an illegitimate son of William Barnett (Tim Reid) and Edna Hyde (Katey Sagal). The character was witty, smart, highly sarcastic, and had special interests in music and television. Danny Masterson appeared in 200 episodes playing this character until the series ended in 2006.
So, what do you think about his role in That ’70s Show? And why do you think it took almost two decades for him to be sentenced by the court?
Let us know your stance in the comment section below.
