Danny Masterson, a rape trial and the shadow of Scientology

In the early 2000s, he was the one who made whole families laugh in the series “That ’70s Show”. Sunglasses on his nose, hippie look, curls on his head, Danny Masterson played the role of the cynical and imperturbable Steven Hyde. Mythical character of this program that has become cult, the New York actor no longer makes anyone laugh. Aged 46, he has been on trial for several days in the United States for three rapes. The case was first revealed in March 2017, making him one of the first Hollywood figures to be charged since the #MeToo scandal. In detail, Danny Masterson is prosecuted for three rapes committed by force or intimidation, charges for which he faces up to 45 years in prison.

The facts would have occurred between 2001 and 2003, when the actor was at the height of his popularity. The three victims all claim to have been assaulted at his home, but they each have different stories. One of his accusers was his former girlfriend, with whom the ex-star remained with for five years. She claims to have woken up one night with her partner raping her. A second, who presents herself as a friend at the time, explained that she was raped while she was at the actor’s house and that he forced her to go up to his room. The third, for her part, accuses Danny Masterson of having raped her one night in 2003 after having asked her by SMS to come to his house. In her complaint, she claims to have immediately refused to have sex with her. To these three charges, he pleads not guilty.

What role does Scientology play?

In addition to this already sordid affair, the shadow of a powerful entity also hangs over the trial: Scientology. Considered a sect in France, it is officially established as a religion in the United States, notably allowing it many tax advantages. A wealthy organization whose most famous representative is Tom Cruise, the role played by Scientology in this affair is at the heart of the debates. The three victims were indeed all members of the Church. One of them said that she had met the accused in her midst. After the alleged rape of which she would have been the victim, she would have tried to alert the ethics committee, in vain.

Frustrated by the group’s lack of reaction, she filed a complaint in 2004, angering the Church. At the time, she would have been forced by Scientology to forgive the actor, letting him understand that she was responsible for this situation. The one named “Jen B” would then have received from her alleged attacker the sum of 400,000 dollars in exchange for her silence. A non-disclosure clause that the young woman claims to have “broken at least 50 times” since. This former Scientologist friend gave her testimony on Tuesday, referring to what was for her “an almost incestuous rape”, reports “Deadline“. “We were such a close group of friends. He was like a brother, sometimes a mean brother,” she said.

In court, she couldn’t hold back tears at her story, saying she was harassed and intimidated and afraid of “half of this courtroom”, implying that a large number of Scientologists would be present. Despite her fears, in 2016 she set out to bring together other potential victims to share their stories. All then agreed to file a complaint against the actor, recalls “USA Today“. The three accusers eventually left Scientology.

The chilling story of a victim

During the first hearings, one of the complainants gave chilling testimony, recounting having lost consciousness and waking up with the accused raping her. She remembered trying to grab his hair to pull him away, but he put a pillow over her face. “I couldn’t breathe anymore,” she said. After trying to pull her away again by holding her throat, she was the one who ended up getting strangled. Worse still, he allegedly threatened her with a gun, telling her to be quiet, as other people appeared to be knocking on her bedroom door. A lawyer for Danny Masterson said that the sexual relations with two of the complainants had been consensual and that the rape of the third, who had a long-standing relationship with the actor, was an invention.

Responding to the actor’s attorneys’ aggressive defense, plaintiffs claimed in August 2019 that Danny Masterson, in conjunction with the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, harassed them, invaded their privacy and conspired to obstruct justice. “Make no mistake, the Church of Scientology is under attack. We are in a new era. The victims realize that they have recourse, and that they no longer need to be afraid,” commented a source to the magazine “US Weeklyat the time. During a preliminary hearing organized in May 2021, Judge Olmedo pointed out that the three women had hesitated to contact the police for fear of reprisals from Scientology and of finding themselves ostracized by other members of the organization.

In total, five women accuse the actor but for them of them, the evidence was not sufficient to initiate legal action. Among the names that come up in the case is that of actress Leah Remini, once a member of Scientology and now its fiercest public opponent. According to journalist Tony Ortega, who has published several articles on his blog on this subject, one of the victims would one day come to find Leah Remini to tell her his story. The latter would then have advised him to file a complaint. “I met with the LAPD, I met with the officer assigned to this case, and I told him that the victims deserved to be heard. I told her to do what was right for these girls, I told her that the world was watching us,” the actress told the reporter.

Not the Scientology Trial

For the actor’s defenders, this ultra-media trial is motivated by the hostility of the general public to this organization with opaque rules, very established in Los Angeles. They have moreover recalled on several occasions that it was not a question here of the trial of Scientology.

Attorney Phillip Cohen has asked that the word “Scientology” not be spoken during the hearings, believing that it is unnecessary and motivates prejudice against the organization. He said he preferred the use of the words “Church”, “club” or “organization”.

He also called for the trial to be dismissed due to the large number of times the Church had already been mentioned in just a few days. A request refused by Judge Charlaine Olmedo. “I understand that the lives of these witnesses could have been completely inundated by Scientology. But this lawsuit is not going to be flooded by Scientology”, she however added later. As a reminder, Scientology presents itself as a religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, which “provides the individual with a precise path leading to a total understanding of his true spiritual nature and the relationship he has with himself, his family, groups, humanity, all forms of life, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being”, can we read on its website.

Married since 2011 to Bijou Phillips, who still supports him today, Danny Masterson claims his innocence. “Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are completely shocked given that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly prompting charges to be laid, but they and their family are reassured to know that in the end, the truth will prevail,” said one of his defenders in a statement when the charges were brought against his client. “People who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know that the allegations are false.” Following the opening of the investigation in 2017, he was fired from the series “The Ranch”, produced by Netflix. He said he was very “disappointed” and “can’t wait to clear (his) honor”.