While there’s no way to cut him out of re-runs and streaming of the series, those behind That ‘70s Show, are making a stand in a big way by not involving cast member Danny Masterson to attend the 25th Anniversary Activation at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. As first reported by EW, and also by Twitter user Jillian Sederholm, the convicted rapist was missing not only physically but also from cutouts and other material celebrating the fan-favorite series.
Following news of his rape conviction, Danny Masterson has been completely cut from the That ’70s Show‘s 25th anniversary activation event at San Diego Comic-Con.
Following an ongoing legal battle, Masterson was found guilty on two counts of rape last month and is awaiting sentencing that could see him serving a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
The initial rape allegations date back to 2017 when three women came forward to accuse Danny Masterson of rape. While the trial commenced at the end of last year, the jury wouldn’t be able to agree on the guilt or innocence of the TV star, landing the court on a mistrial.
The case picked up in the spring when he was convicted of two of the three counts of forcible rape. Masterson is now being held at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles in administrative segregation to keep him away from other prisoners who may want to do him harm.
Along with his stardom, Danny Masterson’s religious background also played a major role in his trial. Having been a member of the Church of Scientology for several years, the religious group’s overarching presence during the legal hearings was a cause of concern for the prosecution, victims, and others tied to the case.
Danny Masterson rose to fame with the rest of the cast of That ‘70s Show where he appeared as the pot-smoking bad boy Steven Hyde during the show’s eight-season run. Masterson joined a cast that included Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama.
The title acted as a launching pad for each of the young burgeoning stars. Following his time on the sitcom, Masterson re-teamed with his fellow That ‘70s Show peer, Kutcher, on Netflix’s The Ranch, a part that he would be fired from following the allegations.
Masterson is now being held at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles in administrative segregation to keep him away from other prisoners who may want to do him harm.
That ‘70s Show has been trying its very best to keep distance between itself and the convicted rapist as Danny Masterson was the only member of the original cast missing from the title’s reboot series, That ‘90s Show.
That ’90s Show
Landing on Netflix earlier this year, That ‘90s Show followed the story of Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna’s (Laura Prepon) daughter, Leia Forman (Callie Haverda), as she makes friends during a summer spent in Point Place, Wisconsin at her grandparents, Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red’s (Kurtwood Smith) home.
While Grace, Prepon, Rupp, Smith, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, and even Tommy Chong and Don Stark reprised their roles from the original series, Danny Masterson’s Steven Hyde was nowhere in sight.
With the recent news of Danny Masterson being cut out of the show’s 25th-anniversary celebrations at San Diego Comic-Con, it would appear to be the final nail in the star’s coffin when it comes to his relationship with the beloved television series.
