Taryn Manning defends Danny Masterson after rape sentencing
Taryn Manning, widely known for her role in “Orange Is the New Black,” made a public defense of her “friend” Danny Masterson following his sentencing to 30 years to life in prison for rape. Manning took to Instagram in the early hours of Monday to express her disapproval of the way Masterson has been condemned for his actions, referring to it as a “mistake.” She spoke about her affection and care for Masterson, stating that he is deserving of a good and happy life like any other human being. Manning defended Masterson, emphasizing that he is already suffering enough. The actress also mentioned her own struggles and personal growth, including her speech impediment and partial deafness. Manning urged critics to leave Masterson alone and disabled the comments on her post.
In the caption accompanying her post, Manning criticized Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis for backtracking on their support for Masterson. She called them “the biggest disgrace of the year” and encouraged her fans to stand up for something in life.
Last Thursday, Masterson, who is a Scientologist, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison for two counts of rape committed in 2003. Following his sentencing, letters written by Kutcher and Kunis in support of Masterson became public. Kutcher described Masterson as a positive influence, role model, and an honest individual. He expressed his belief that Masterson is not a continuing threat to society and highlighted the injustice of his daughter growing up without her father. Kunis referred to Masterson as an amazing friend, confidant, and outstanding older brother figure. She praised his sense of responsibility, care for others, and his grace and empathy in every situation.
In response to the backlash and accusations of hypocrisy, Kutcher and Kunis uploaded an Instagram video stating that they support victims and clarifying that their letters were not intended to question the judicial system or the jury’s ruling. They emphasized that their letters were intended for the judge.
Masterson was found guilty of raping two women in May, and a third accuser’s case was dismissed.
Taryn Manning publicly defended her “friend” Danny Masterson after the convicted rapist was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
The “Orange Is the New Black” star took to Instagram in the predawn hours of Monday to rip into everyone “crucifying” the disgraced actor for his “mistake.”
“You humiliated somebody that I actually really loved and cared for,” she began her lengthy video, adding, “I’m all the way in with everything that I’ve always stood for that I was hiding secretly.”
“There’s no human on this planet that doesn’t deserve to have the best life and to be happy and free because you are made in the image of the good Lord, made perfectly just the way you are,” Manning, 44, told her followers.
“And the fact that people wanna just tear us all down, like even with my friend Danny going to prison for 30 years. Yeah, he made a mistake, but everyone just keep going, keep crucifying him, as if he’s not already suffering.”
The actress went on to say that the “That ’70s Show” star, 47, “gets it” and “got it” before encouraging critics to “leave him alone.”
She also claimed that she is “80 percent deaf” and has “come a long way” with her “speech impediment.”
Manning informed “everybody that thinks [she’s] on drugs or drunk” that she tends to “fall back into [her] tendencies, which is a little bit of a lisp,” whenever she is not actively working.
In the accompanying caption, the “Crossroads” star called Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis — who recently issued an apology after their letters of support for Masterson went public — “the biggest disgrace of the year” for “back peddling.”
Manning urged her fans to “stand for something in life” before disabling the comments on her post.
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Last Thursday, Masterson — a devout Scientologist — was ordered to spend at least the next three decades behind bars for two rapes he committed in 2003.
The following day, his former co-stars Kutcher and Kunis’ letters praising his character — which they sent to the judge ahead of his sentencing — went viral.
Kutcher, 45, called Masterson “a positive influence,” “a role model” and “an extraordinarily honest and intentional human being.”
The “Two and a Half Men” actor went on to state that he does not believe his former “The Ranch” co-star “is an ongoing harm to society” and argued that the latter’s 9-year-old daughter, Fianna, being raised without her father is a “tertiary injustice in and of itself.”
Kunis, for her part, described Masterson as an “amazing friend,” “confidant” and “outstanding older brother figure.”
The “Friends with Benefits” actress, 40, claimed the “Dracula 2000” actor “has consistently displayed a profound sense of responsibility and care for those around him” and that he “demonstrates grace and empathy in every situation.”
The married couple also made sure to highlight Masterson’s alleged anti-drug stance.
Amid fierce criticism and allegations of hypocrisy, Kutcher and Kunis uploaded an Instagram video Saturday in which they claimed they “support victims” and that their letters “were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jury’s ruling.”
They also noted that their letters were “intended for the judge.”
Masterson — who shares Fianna with his wife, Bijou Phillips — was found guilty in May of raping two women. A third accuser’s case was ultimately dismissed.
