The implications of Danny Masterson’s conviction on Hollywood and the justice system.

Danny Masterson Found Guilty of Two Counts of Rape in Retrial

Danny Masterson, the former star of the TV sitcom “That ’70s Show,” has been found guilty of two counts of rape on Wednesday at his retrial in Los Angeles. He could face up to 30 years in prison for these crimes, with a sentencing date yet to be determined.

The Retrial and the Charges

Masterson was charged in 2020 for raping three women at his Los Angeles home between 2001 and 2003. The retrial came after the first trial for the case ended in a mistrial last November due to the jurors being deadlocked on all three counts. The second trial lasted about three weeks, with the jury taking seven days spread over two weeks to reach their verdict.

Two of the women testified that the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a member, played a role in how they reported the alleged assaults. The church has denied any policies forbidding members from reporting other members to law enforcement.

The Church of Scientology’s Involvement

The judge allowed a former member of the church’s leadership to testify as an expert on the institution’s policies about going to police, and a courtroom controversy broke out over a Scientology attorney potentially having possession of trial evidence.

Following the verdict, the church denied any such policies and called the prosecution’s introduction of religion into this trial an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and an assault on the due process rights of every American.

Masterson’s Victim’s Testimonies

The women alleged that Masterson had drugged each of the victims to gain control and take away their ability to consent. While Masterson was not charged with any counts of drugging, the judge allowed the prosecution to state directly that the women were drugged. Masterson’s defense attorneys declined to call any witnesses, and Masterson did not testify.

The first woman, a model who had dated Masterson in 1996, alleged that the actor raped her in their bed in 2001. A month after the rape, she and Masterson went to dinner at a restaurant they frequented near their home. The woman drank one or two glasses of wine with dinner, then had no memory between getting up to leave and waking alone and in pain in bed well into the next day. Masterson admitted to having sex with her while she was unconscious. The victim said, “He started laughing at me.”

The second woman, a friend of Masterson’s, alleged that the actor took her upstairs from the hot tub at his Los Angeles home one night in 2003 and raped her in his bedroom.

The third woman alleged Masterson raped her on a night in 2003 after texting her to come to his house. She testified that she had set boundaries and was clear there was to be no sex.

The Implications</h3>

This news follows in the footsteps of the #MeToo movement. It highlights the importance of believing women and reminds us that they should be supported when they come forward with such allegations. It is a reminder that no one is above the law, and those who commit heinous crimes must be held accountable.

The verdict and the involvement of the Church of Scientology raise questions about the institution’s policies and its influence over its members. The Church should reflect on whether they have fostered a culture that prioritizes protecting the institution’s reputation over protecting its members and their well-being.

Editorial and Advice

The verdict of Danny Masterson’s case should be used as a reminder to individuals and society as a whole that allegations of a sexual nature must be taken seriously. It’s critical to provide safe spaces for individuals to come forward without fear of being disbelieved, shamed, or invalidated. Further, institutions and its members must take responsibility when addressing such allegations and should prioritize the wellbeing of their members over their reputation as an institution.

Finally, the judicial system’s impartiality and ability to provide justice should be acknowledged and respected. Hopefully, this verdict will encourage more survivors to come forward and seek justice while also prompting individuals and organizations to reflect on and take responsibility for their actions.