Danny Masterson has been ousted from Netlfix’s The Ranch amid renewed attention on multiple rape accusations made against the actor.
“As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch. [Monday] was his last day on the show, and production will resume in early 2018 without him,” Netflix said in a statement to the Huffington Post on Tuesday.
The announcement comes one day after it was revealed that a Netflix executive reportedly told one of Masterson’s accusers to her face that the streaming network does not believe the accusations against Masterson. Masterson will still appear in the second half of season two, which premiers on Dec 15, and a few episodes of season 3 that have already been filmed.
The LAPD is currently investigating three rape claims made against the That ’70s Show actor. No charges have been filed, and Masterson claims each encounter was consensual.
UPDATE: Masterson released a statement in which he once again denied the accusations against him.
I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of “The Ranch.” From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit. I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one.
In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused. I understand and look forward to clearing my name once and for all. In the meantime, I want to express my gratitude to the cast and crew that I’ve worked so closely with over the past three seasons. I wish them nothing but success. I am also so thankful to the fans that have supported me and continue to do so.
