Danny Masterson’s trial for the alleged assault and rape of three women has come to a Los Angeles courtroom at the same moment as several prominent #MeToo cases – but these allegations predate the #MeToo movement, underlining just how long they have dogged the “That 70’s Show” actor and prominent Scientologist.
Masterson and his lawyers Philip Cohen and Karen Goldstein were in a Los Angeles court Monday, where jury selection got underway. Dozens of prospective jurors were sworn in and given questionnaire instructions; they were dismissed before midday and expected back Tuesday afternoon to begin the selection process.
Masterson was formally charged in 2020, but allegations first came to light in March 2017, more than six months before the New York Times’ bombshell report on Harvey Weinstein. A blogger covering Scientology was first to report that Los Angeles Police Department detectives were investigating Masterson after three women came forward with accusations of rape and assault.
The women claim they came into contact with Masterson in the early 2000s through the Church of Scientology, and each has said they were pressured by the Church into keeping the allegations quiet. A representative for the Church declined Tuesday to comment on the Masterson trial, noting that it is not a party in the case. They did say, however:
“The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of Scientologists, or of anyone, to law enforcement. Quite the opposite. Church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land.”
In two of thos cases, the women – one of whom was in an long-term relationship with Masterson – said they were forcibly raped while unconscious sometime in the early Aughts. One woman said she attended a party at Masterson’s house, where she passed out and awoke in his room to find Masterson having sex with her; she claims he then tried to choke her back to unconsciousness.
All three women said they came forward after talking with Leah Remini, a former Scientologist and critic of the Church, who in late 2016 had released the first installments of her documentary series “Scientology and the Aftermath.” At one point, one of the accusers expressed frustration to LAPD higher-ups that the investigation had been compromised through the department’s relationship with the Church.
At the time, Masterson issued a lengthy statement:
“We are aware of the accuser’s 16-year-old allegations. It was only after she was in contact with Leah Remini that she made allegations of sexual assault by Mr. Masterson. The alleged incident occurred in the middle of their 6-year relationship, after which she continued to be his longtime girlfriend,” it read in part, concluding: “Based on reading the anti-Scientology blog that posted this story, these false allegations appear to be motivated to boost Leah Remini’s anti-Scientology television series.”
In 2019, the women filed a separate lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, saying they were stalked and harassed after coming forward. In response to that lawsuit, Masterson told TheWrap through his attorney that he intends to beat the charges, then go on offense against his accusers:
“The public will finally be able to learn the truth and see how I’ve been railroaded by this woman,” he said in 2019. “And once her lawsuit is thrown out, I intend to sue her, and the others who jumped on the bandwagon, for the damage they caused me and my family.”
Masterson married fellow actor Bijou Phillips in 2011. They have one child together.
Before the trial began, Judge Charlaine Olmedo had to determine how much discussion of the Church itself that she would allow. Ultimately she told prosecutors she would allow limited discussion on how the Church may have influenced accusers not to go to police sooner.
“This is not going to become a trial on Scientology,” she said in her ruling.
If convicted, Masterson faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison in a trial that could last up to a month.
Kelly Hartog contributed to this report.