Accusers speak out about the trauma they endured as the actor is sentenced to 30 years in prison for rape.
In a Los Angeles courtroom on Friday, three women gave emotional victim impact statements as actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping them between 2001 and 2003. Masterson, best known for his role in That ’70s Show, was accused by the women of drugging and sexually assaulting them at his Hollywood Hills home during that period.
Jane Doe #1, the first accuser, spoke out during the sentencing, describing the deep emotional and physical scars left by the assaults. “I didn’t choose to be born into Scientology, just as I didn’t choose to be raped by Danny Masterson,” she said, illustrating the immense pressure she felt as a member of the Church of Scientology and the difficulty in speaking out against someone who was viewed as “untouchable” within the organization.
The women also shared the enduring trauma they faced after coming forward, both from Masterson and from the institution of Scientology, which they claimed attempted to silence and discredit them. Their testimony was crucial in bringing attention to the actor’s actions and in helping to secure his conviction. The case highlighted not only the personal devastation caused by the crimes but also the broader challenges survivors face when attempting to expose powerful figures in situations where their abusers are protected by influential institutions.
Masterson’s sentencing marks the end of a long and difficult legal battle for the victims, whose courage in speaking out against their abuser served as a pivotal moment in their quest for justice.