It can’t be denied that Danny Masterson’s rape case casts a long, dark shadow over That 70s Show.
Hanging out down the street, you could find the cast of That ’70s Show, Fox’s go-to sitcom from 1998-2006. Lasting eight seasons and even 200 episodes, That ’70s Show had an ensemble that found a charismatic group of characters in the Wisconsin burbs and making the most out of that basement. Making its debut on Fox in the fall of 1998, the show quickly became a cultural phenomenon. It made superstars out of much of its young cast, including Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Danny Masterson, Wilmer Valderrama, and even the adult leads, Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith (with Red Foreman a far cry from this role in Robocop).
Yet, as lighthearted as the show was, some very dark business was going on behind the scenes, as co-star Danny Masterson’s rape trial and conviction proved. What happened to the cast of That 70s Show is a disturbing epilogue to a show that, at its best, brought a lot of joy to tons of fans but had a very dark side. In this episode, we dig into what’s happened to the close-knit cast, many of whom came under fire for their support of Masterson throughout his trial and after his conviction, with this a tale of Scientology, wealth, power, and abuse. That said, it’s not all dark, with co-stars like Topher Grace and Laura Prepon going on to long-running careers, and, despite everything, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have had one of the better Hollywood marriages. Yet, one can’t deny the Masterson case and the icky support from many of the cast members have cast a shadow over the show’s legacy, as well as Netflix’s ill-timed sequel series, That ’90s Show.
Here’s how the gang is doing nowadays:
What else needs to be said? Masterson is currently serving 30 years to life in prison for the rape of two women. Despite initially standing by Masterson, his wife Bijou Phillips has filed for divorce. One of the big issues surrounding his case was the influence of Scientology and whether or not the religion hushed up his crimes. A civil trial which puts the David Miscavige-led church in the crosshairs, is set for September 2025.
Happily married, the two found themselves recently attacked online for their steadfast support of Masterson. Their apology video went viral for all the wrong reasons. However, the two recently appeared in That 90s Show, with Kutcher making something of a comeback after many years out of the limelight. He played a rare antagonist in the well-received B.J. Novak thriller Vengeance, although his recent return to rom-coms, Your Place or Mine, was critically reviled following its Netflix release. Mila Kunis is currently set to star in Goodrich opposite Michael Keaton.
Formerly a Scientologist, Prepon apparently left the religion many years ago. Post-70s Show, Prepon had a long-running, acclaimed role on the Netflix drama Orange is the New Black. Since it ended in 2019 she’s been laying low, but, like her former co-stars, she appeared on That 90s Show.
Along with Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama, Grace did not write a letter of support for Masterson, with the rumour being that Grace was estranged from the rest of the cast in the years following That 70s Show end. However, like everyone else (minus Masterson), he returned for a cameo in That 90s Show. His recent sitcom, Home Economics, ended a solid run on ABC, and he’ll likely turn up on a new show soon.
While Valderrama hasn’t had many big roles post That 70s Show, it looks like that may change soon, with him co-starring opposite Adam Sandler in two Netflix movies, Leo and Spaceman, while he’s also (apparently) got a role in Mission: Impossible 8.