Dark Secrets That Came Out About The That ‘70s Show Stars

For eight years and just as many seasons, ‘That ‘70s Show’ was one of the most beloved sitcoms the world had seen. In fact, it was such a phenomenon that a sequel - ‘That ‘90s Show’ hit our screens in January 2023. Still, there’s a lot that fans don’t know about the show.

The secrets you might not know about ‘That ‘70s Show’ and its stars go to show just how much has happened behind the scenes throughout the years. The problem? Plenty of its stars have gone down in history for all the wrong reasons.

Danny Masterson was first accused of assault in March 2017

Danny Masterson was one of the leading faces of ‘That ‘70s Show,’ playing Steven Hyde throughout the sitcom’s entire run. However, things started to come undone for the actor in March 2017 when the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into claims from three separate accusers. The news first came after Tony Ortega’s blog, The Underground Bunker.

Here, the journalist spoke about assault allegations, claiming three women from the Church of Scientology - a religion Danny has also been linked to - had been pressured by the Church not to talk about the allegations. However, two of the three victims eventually claimed they had been assaulted by the actor while they were asleep or passed out.

A fourth person came forward with more accusations against Danny Masterson

Eight months later, it seemed there were more accusations to add to the growing list of claims against Danny Masterson. A fourth accuser stepped forward to talk about an assault that allegedly happened at the start of the 2000s, with the news breaking through journalist Yasha Ali, who worked for the Huffington Post at the time.

According to the journalist, The LAPD had been investigating the claims from all the accusers since late 2016 and referred the accusations to the district attorney the following year. However, Ali stated the case had been stalled “despite compelling” and “overwhelming” evidence against Danny Masterson. At the time, no charges had been filed against the actor.

One of Danny Masterson’s accusers publicly spoke about his continued Netflix deal

The same month that another accuser spoke out, actress Chrissie Carnell Bixler confirmed she was one of the people making claims against Danny Masterson. The star spoke to The Daily Beast about it all, claiming she could “no longer be silent” and that the only way to “protect” herself was “to speak.” That wasn’t all she had to say.

At the time, Danny was busy working with Netflix as the star and co-producer on the comedy show ‘The Ranch,’ with Chrissie claiming the network needed to change this immediately. She stated she would “NOT shut my mouth” and that Netflix “makes us feel like we don’t matter.” Instead, Chrissie argued that people helping Danny “don’t matter.”

Netflix allegedly told an accuser they didn't believe the accusations against the actor

As if things couldn't get worse for Netflix, it wasn't long before another one of Danny Masterson's accusers stated the streaming service didn't care about the accusations and thought they were all fictional. In fact, the Huffington Post reported that an executive working at Netflix unknowingly told an accuser all of this, stating none of the accusations were credible.

Netflix later confirmed that Andy Yeatman was the one to make the comments, adding he was - at the time - their director of global kids content. The streaming service stated the comments were "uninformed" and "careless" but added Andy had no idea that he was talking to one of Danny's accusers. Andy Yeatman was eventually fired from his role.

The streaming network ultimately fired Danny Masterson in December 2017

Shortly after Andy Yeatman was fired from Netflix, Danny Masterson met the same fate. A statement from the streaming service was released on December 5, 2017, stating that they had “decided to write Danny Masterson off of The Ranch” and how his last day at work had been the day before the statement was released.

Netflix also added that they would continue working on the comedy show, with Danny’s own rep claiming he was “very disappointed” that the streaming service was believing the “outrageous allegations.” However, the pressure coming down on Netflix was seemingly enough to see them cut the controversial actor from any of their productions as soon as possible.

One of Danny Masterson's former partners spoke about the abuse she allegedly suffered

Chrissie Carnell Bixler spoke up about how she was one to accuse Danny Masterson of assault, and it wasn't long before she was joined by another: Bobette Riales. The actress and model actually dated Danny at the start of the 2000s and claimed this was when the assaults took place, taking to social media to share her story.

Here, Bobette stated she had "stayed quiet long enough" and that "All I seek is justice" and to "prevent this from ever happening" to anyone else moving forward. Chrissie was quick to stand by the fellow accuser, but that wasn't all. The accusations came at the start of the #MeToo Movement and instantly sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.

Danny Masterson was dropped by his talent agency after 20 years together

If there’s one thing people have learned, it’s that people can be quick to cut ties with those accused of horrific things if there are enough people coming forward and speaking up. That was the case for Danny Masterson. He wasn’t invited back to any ‘That ‘70s Shows’ reunions and had been dropped by Netflix and ‘The Ranch.’

January 2018 also marked the time that Danny was dropped by his talent agent, United Talent Agency. The top Hollywood agency has worked with some of the best in the business but told the Huffington Post that they no longer wanted to work with the star. All of this came after Danny had been with the agency for 20 years.

Four accusers filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and Masterson in 2019

Although some claim the Church of Scientology had nothing to do with the assault allegations, four of Danny Masterson’s accusers had other ideas. In August 2019, they filed a lawsuit against the Church and the actor, claiming they were stalked and intimidated following their accusations. Among them were Chrissie Carnell Bixer, Bobette Riales, and two Jane Does.

At the time, the four women demanded a jury by trial and were claiming unspecified damages, but Danny had a lot to say about it all. In a statement through People magazine, he claimed it was “beyond ridiculous” and that he was “not going to fight my ex-girlfriend in the media.” Instead, Danny planned on “[beating] her in court.”

The actor was ultimately charged with assaulting three women in June 2020

Four women had spoken up about assault allegations, and it wasn’t long before Danny Masterson was charged with three of those counts. One woman was 23 years old at the time and allegedly assaulted in 2001. The second woman was 28 years old at the time and was allegedly assaulted in April 2003. The third woman was 23 years old.

She also claimed to have been assaulted between October and December 2003. Few details were given about the case other than the times of the supposed crimes and the ages of the alleged victims. However, the Deputy District Attorney, Reinhold Mueller, claimed that all of the crimes had supposedly taken place at Danny’s own home.

Danny Masterson was quickly arrested but was later released

The same day the news of the charges broke, the world learned that Danny Masterson had been arrested. However, he was released a few hours later after he posted bond. Prosecutors in the case spoke about why only three of the charges had been filed, claiming one case had insufficient evidence, and another was due to the statute of limitations.

Many wondered what would happen to Danny, and it wasn’t long before his attorney, Tom Mesereau, released a statement through People magazine. Here, he claimed the actor “is innocent,” and they were “confident that he will be exonerated” after “all the evidence comes to light.” Still, the accusers were “confident that the truth will be known.”

The actor denied the charges and seemingly took it in his stride

Danny Masterson was first arrested in June 2020, but it took seven months until the case was in court for the first time. Here, the actor pleaded not guilty to the charges through his lawyer, with Danny himself not making an appearance in court. That moment finally came several months later, on May 18, 2021.

However, it seemed the actor wasn’t going to let the accusations get him down, as Danny took to social media to post a smiling selfie outside of the courthouse. Although it has since been deleted, Danny posed with his wife, Bijou Phillips, alongside the caption that “the most beautiful Uber driver” had dropped him “off at school today.”

A preliminary hearing saw the judge rule Danny Masterson must stand trial

May 18, 2021, marked the start of the preliminary hearing in Danny Masterson’s case, with the three accusers taking to the stand over several days to talk about what happened. The first claimed she had been given illegal substances without her knowledge, causing her to pass out. She added Danny threatened her when she tried to fight him off.

The second stated she’d also been given illegal substances after five years of dating Danny and that he hit her during the alleged assault. The third accuser claimed she was intimidated by Danny due to his high rank within the Church of Scientology and “didn’t want any violence to take place.” Eventually, a judge ordered Danny had to stand trial.

Danny Masterson was found guilty on two out of three counts of assault in May 2023

After a lengthy trial that saw all three accusers have to take to the stand once more, Danny Masterson was found guilty of two of the charges brought against him. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was found guilty after the jury spent seven days deliberating, but there was a hung jury on the third charge.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Danny didn’t react much when the verdict was read, but his family in the gallery - including his wife, Bijou Phillips - were “fighting back tears.” The outlet also claimed that the judge in the case asked them to “maintain [their] composure” and that even though “it’s hard,” they had to be quiet.

The former actor was sentenced to at least 30 years on September 7, 2023

A little over four months after Danny Masterson was found guilty on two of the charges, he was finally sentenced in the case. That moment came on September 7, 2023, after two of the women in the case gave their victim impact statements. Here, one said, “you stole from me,” as the assault was “a theft of the spirit.”

The second also said she “knew he belonged behind bars” and that “I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police.” After hearing everything, the judge presiding over the case sentenced Danny to 30 years to life in prison for the crimes, meaning he’ll be eligible for parole in 25 years, with his attorneys stating they will appeal the conviction.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher were among 50 people who wrote letters to the judge

Of course, Danny Masterson was also entitled to have people speak on his behalf, with two of his former ‘That ‘70s Show’ stars coming forward with their thoughts on it all. Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher were two of more than 50 to defend the former actor, with Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp also penning their own letters.

Ashton wrote that Danny was always “kind, courteous, and hard working,” adding his former co-star treated everyone on set “as equals” and that he was “an excellent” “role model.” Following on from her husband’s words, Mila stated Danny is “an outstanding older brother figure,” an “amazing friend” and “confidant,” and “an outstanding role model and friend.”

The couple have been forced to apologize for their letters

Following the release of their letters, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have publicly apologized for the language they used and their views on Danny Masterson. Ashton took to social media, where he posted a video stating they are “aware of the pain that has been caused” by the letters they issued, claiming, “We support victims.”

Mile continued to say they’ve “historically” supported victims and “continue to do so,” but they were asked by Danny’s family to write the letters because they have known him for 25 years. The actress added they weren’t “written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system” and that they both want to show their support for any victim of assault.

One of the accusers in the case called the pair’s apology “hurtful” and “insulting”

Shortly after Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher released their apology video, one of the accusers in the case - Jane Doe #1 - spoke to journalist Yashar Ali about the impact the letters had on her. Here, she stated that the apology video was “incredibly insulting and hurtful,” adding she hopes the couple “learn radical accountability” and the importance of “self-education.”

Jane Doe #1 also stated she hopes the pair learn “when to keep their privilege in check,” especially Ashton Kutcher, who claims he works with victims of assault. When it came to Mila, Jane Doe #1 stated, “I can only think of ‘Times Up,’” an organization that’s raised over $24 million to help victims of assault.

Sharon Osbourne recently called Ashton Kutcher the rudest celebrity she’s met

Other celebrities have since stepped forward to talk about their interactions with Ashton Kutcher, with Sharon Osbourne opening up about several moments when talking to E! News in September 2023. While some celebrities dance around the tricky questions, Sharon faced them head-on, stating that the actor is the rudest celebrity she has ever met in the industry.

After forgetting his name, Sharon’s daughter - Kelly Osbourne - asked if she meant Ashton Kutcher. Sharon confirmed and added that he is a “rude, rude, rude, rude little boy.” Host Adrienne Bailon-Houghton claimed she was “not prepared for that,” with Kelly adding that she wasn’t expecting it either. Ashton is yet to comment on Sharon’s statements about him.

She has previously spoken about other bad encounters with Ashton Kutcher

It seems this isn’t the first time Sharon Osbourne has shared her thoughts on Ashton Kutcher, stating in 2018 that she wasn’t one of his fans while talking to Larry King. Here, the host asked Sharon about her precious celebrity interviews that didn’t go to plan, with her stating she didn’t have a great time while talking to Ashton.

It seems Sharon got his name wrong, calling him “Ashton Kushner,” and she “Didn’t get on with him at all.” After using the wrong name, Sharon says he had a “bad attitude” and asked her, “what have you done in this industry?” Sharon’s response? She would “eat [him] up,” and he had no idea “what [he was] dealing with, kid.”

Ashton Kutcher once thought he had been stood up for a date

Just because some people might not have the nicest things to say about Ashton Kutcher doesn't mean that things have been entirely easy for the actor. In fact, there was a time in 2001 when he accidentally found himself in the middle of a crime. Ashton was meant to be meeting fashion design student Ashley Ellerin for a date.

Sadly, when he arrived, Ashton said there was no knock and assumed he had been stood up. After looking through the window and seeing what he believed was a red drink spilled on the floor, Ashton left. However, later evidence proved it was "actually blood." Ashley's life had actually been unknowingly ended before Ashton arrived.

The person responsible wasn’t convicted for another 18 years

The moment happened in 2001, and it wasn’t long before Ashton Kutcher was cleared of any wrongdoing, but things didn’t end there. In fact, it took 18 years for Ashley Ellerin’s family to get justice. That moment finally came in August 2019 when Michael Gargiulo was found guilty of ending two women’s lives and an attempt on a third victim.

Michael was working as an air conditioning repairman and reportedly stabbed Ashley a staggering 47 times during the attack. Michelle Murphy was 26 years old when she was attacked and survived, but admitted that spending the night alone still “creates a world of fear.” Michael was sentenced to capital punishment in July 2021, with potentially more charges to come.

The actor was once told his twin brother would pass away by 13 years old

One thing many people don’t know about Ashton Kutcher is that he is a twin. However, Michael Kutcher was born underweight and was known to have breathing issues. After battling his way through the first few months, Michael was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and was told at 13 years old, he had “just three to four weeks” left.

That was over 30 years ago, and thankfully, Michael is still here. However, the twins have had a complicated relationship at times. In 2003, Ashton confessed his brother had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, something Michael was less than pleased to learn. However, he now feels Ashton “allowed me to be myself” by sharing the news with the world.

Mila Kunis faced a lot of anti-Semitism while living in the USSR

It seems Ashton Kutcher isn’t the only one from ‘That ‘70s Show’ to face several difficulties while growing up. In fact, his co-star and wife, Mila Kunis, also faced her fair share of terror and worry throughout her childhood. Many don’t know Mila was born and raised in Ukraine when it was still a part of the USSR.

However, as her family is Jewish, it added another layer of difficulty. In 2011, Mila told WhatCulture there “was a bit of anti-Semitism in Russia” at the time, with the actress later telling The Sun she would see “signs” around school. In 2012, things got worse when a Ukrainian politician used a slur against Mila, with many condemning his actions.

She moved to the US with her family in search of better lives

Rather than risk what would happen to their two children in the USSR, Mila Kunis’ parents decided to leave everything behind and move to the US while she and her brother were still children. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as simple as picking up and moving across the world for a fresh start. For one, they only had $250 to their name.

Mila admitted as much to The Telegraph, stating it was “all we were allowed to take.” To make matters worse, the actress continued to add that her parents were forced to give up “good jobs and degrees” as they weren’t allowed to transfer them to the US. Ultimately, Mila thinks she learned “what a dollar is worth” as a result.

Laura Prepon lost her father when she was just 13 years old during a surgery gone wrong

Playing Donna Pinciotti on ‘That ‘70s Show’ really introduced actress Laura Prepon to new levels of fame. Sadly, things were far from easy for the star throughout her childhood, especially as she lost her father when she was just 13 years old. The problem? A dramatic medical error was to blame, as Laura’s father was in surgery at the time.

Laura opened up about it all in her memoir, where she wrote they’d been told her father’s heart was being attacked by “layers of fat.” However, when he was in the middle of the operation, doctors believed they were removing those layers - but were actually “peeling away layers of his enlarged heart” as they had “misdiagnosed him.”

The moment and following experiences saw Laura Prepon develop an eating disorder

As if the trauma of losing her father wasn't enough, Laura Prepon also had to deal with the aftermath of it all. The actress continued to explain that her mother's reaction to losing her husband was to refuse to cry in front of anyone else. As a result, a young Laura believed she had to suppress all her emotions.

She later learned that "crying didn't equal weakness," but that moment came well into Laura's adulthood. To make matters worse, Laura claims that her relationship with her mother also led her to develop an eating disorder when she was younger. Now, she hopes opening up about her struggles with others will help someone else in need.

Kurtwood Smith’s father lost his life while fighting in World War II

Red Forman was the strict father to the group on ‘That ‘70s Show,’ with Kurtwood Smith bringing him to life throughout the entire run of the show. Here, Red is known to have served in World War II, but it seems the actor behind him has more of a link to the war than people realize, thanks to his father.

George A. Smith lost his life in March 1945 while fighting in the war, with Kurtwood posting a photo of his father’s grave in the Netherlands in 2017. Here, the actor shared that he “never knew him” but that he will always remember his father and the sacrifices he made for his country all those years ago.

Chuck Norris was initially pegged to play Red on That ‘70s Show

Believe it or not, but Kurtwood Smith wasn’t actually meant to be a part of ‘That ‘70s Show’ at all. Instead, the creators initially had someone else in mind for the show: Chuck Norris. Apparently, they hoped to use the hyper-masculine persona of Chuck as the perfect contrast to his on-screen son, Eric Forman - played by Topher Grace.

After all, Eric was known to love books and act like a bit of a nerd who had no interest in other conventionally masculine activities. Sadly, things didn’t work out as Chuck was already committed to his drama show ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ at the time. In the end, the role went to Kurtwood Smith, and the rest is history.

Tanya Roberts’ partner had no idea if she had actually passed away

For three seasons, Midge Pinciotti was one of the leading characters on ‘That ‘70s Show’ before becoming a regular guest. Of course, we have Tanya Roberts to thank for bringing her to life, but the world tragically had to say goodbye to the star at the start of January 2021 - not that anyone knew if she’d really passed away.

Due to restrictions at the time, Tanya’s partner, Lance O’Brien, wasn’t able to be by her side when she collapsed on Christmas Eve 2020. Apparently, it was down to complications from a urinary tract infection, with Lance believing Tanya was gone by January 4. The problem? It hadn’t actually happened, as Tanya passed away the following day at 71.

Lisa Robin Kelly had a tumultuous life after she was replaced on That ‘70s Show

Playing Laurie Forman during her run on ‘That ‘70s Show’ was enough to introduce Lisa Robin Kelly to many around the world. After all, it’s still arguably her most notable role, but that all changed after season three. Lisa’s character was eventually replaced by Christina Moore during season six, leaving the actress to struggle with the change.

Lisa was ultimately arrested a host of times throughout the 2010s for things such as driving while under the influence and spousal abuse. Although the actress claimed her “male roommate” was trying to set her up, Lisa was reportedly arrested once more later in 2012 for another case of assault. Sadly, things didn’t end there.

The actress ultimately lost her life while trying to get help for her addiction

One of the many things going on behind closed doors was Lisa Robin Kelly’s battle with addiction. In 2013, the actress checked herself into rehab in a bid to kick the habit once and for all, but things took a tragic turn. Lisa ultimately passed away in her sleep at 43 years old while staying at the rehab center.

Her agent later spoke to the Los Angeles Times, where he confessed that she was “hopeful and confident” she would finally beat her addictions shortly before she lost her life. An autopsy later revealed that Lisa had lost her life to several illegal substances, with her estranged husband later suing the facility for negligence in 2014.

Tommy Chong was missing from That ‘70s Show because he was in jail

Tommy Chong, also known as Leo Chingkwake from his time on ‘That ‘70s Show,’ was known for his love of certain substances, and it seems that’s not too far from reality. In fact, almost every single one of the star’s posts on social media is related to the substance, and he even opened his own brand selling the stuff.

Although it now brings Chong a lot of joy and money, there was a time that was far from the case. In 2003, it was reported Chong was arrested, sent to jail, and fined $20,000 for selling paraphernalia. Ever wonder why he was absent throughout seasons seven and eight of ‘That ‘70s Show’? Chong was behind bars.

That ‘70s Show began to run its course as the cast aged

One of the things that really stuck out about ‘That ‘70s Show’ was the fact the cast was actually on the younger end of the scale, playing teens. In fact, Danny Masterson was the oldest at 22 years old, but most of them were relatively unknown and got to enjoy all the fame and fortune that followed the sitcom.

Still, lasting eight years meant plenty of the stars started to age well above the teens they were supposed to be playing on the show. As if that wasn’t enough, the stars’ further roles meant they were suddenly playing much older characters, and it began to show on ‘That ‘70s Show.’ Ultimately, the series had to do something.

Topher Grace started to get picky about the type of roles he would take

As far as career breakthroughs go, Topher Grace’s in ‘That ‘70s Show’ might be one of the best. After all, he always wanted to work with brilliant directors in Hollywood, and the money he earned from the sitcom meant he could suddenly be a lot pickier when it came to the type of characters he brought to life.

2004 was a major year in Topher’s career as he started working on several movies, meaning he had to strike a balance between the show and the rest of his work. Ultimately, Topher decided to leave the show at the end of season seven in 2005 - and almost immediately scored the part of Venom in the superhero film ‘Spider-Man 3.’

Ashton Kutcher also dipped out of the show before the season finale

After losing one of the leading characters, it wasn’t long before the rest of the cast working on ‘That ‘70s Show’ started to think about leaving the sitcom behind in search of bigger projects. Ashton Kutcher was one on the list. For years, Ashton’s character, Michael Kelso, had been involved in a host of romantic storylines.

However, that all came to an end partway through the final season of the show, season eight. Ashton had already landed several notable movie roles and was ready to work on his big screen roles and as a producer. After Jackie rejected Kelso’s proposal, Ashton’s character was free to leave for good - and that’s just what he did.

Introducing Josh Meyers didn’t go over well with fans

Losing two of the biggest stars meant ‘That ‘70s Show’ was in an awkward place. Did they try to recast Michael Kelso and Eric Forman, or did they find a new direction? Ultimately, the sitcom settled on adding Randy Pearson - brought to life by Josh Meyers - as Donna’s new love interest in a bid to keep moving forward.

Even though Randy joined the main cast, fans were less than impressed with the new member of the group. Many felt he was meant to replace Eric but struggled to find him as charming. While there’s no telling how long the show could have lasted if Ashton and Topher stayed, adding Josh was seemingly the final nail in the coffin.

The final season of That ‘70s Show saw a massive dip in ratings

The first season of ‘That ‘70s Show’ was an instant hit, bringing on over 11 million households. This was a theme that would continue throughout most of the show. Even though ratings did gradually start to fall as the show went on, none of the seasons ever scored below 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. That was until season eight.

In fact, the final season of ‘That ‘70s Show’ dramatically fell to 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many fans not just moving on but learning to hate the show they had loved so much for so many years. Even before ‘That ‘70s Show' was canceled, it was losing fans quicker than it could do to bring new viewers in.

There weren’t many stories left to tell on the show

If there’s one thing writers have learned about long-running shows, it’s that they need to have enough stories to keep the seasons moving forward. If not, they could find themselves canceled before they have a chance to claw things back. Sadly, many believe that’s why ‘That ‘70s Show’ started to go downhill at the end of its run.

The final season of the show saw most character arcs reach their natural end, with everyone getting the relationship and job that seemed right. By the time the final episode aired, there would have been little wiggle room to add anything further to future seasons, with many fans thinking any more ‘That ‘70s Show’ would have outstayed its welcome.

That ‘70s Show no longer fit into the network's expanding schedule

Of course, it’s not just ‘That ‘70s Show’ that had a say in whether or not it continued on. The network also played a big part, and it seems Fox was already moving in a new direction. By the time season eight rolled around, the network was holding onto top spots in many categories and at an all-time high.

Plus, Fox had started work on its Animation Domination, meaning animated shows like ‘The Simpsons,’ King of the Hill,’ and ‘Family Guy’ took center stage. By moving ‘That ‘70s Show’ to a slot with stiffer competition - like the reality shows ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘Survivor’ - it almost didn’t stand a chance, especially as Fox no longer needed its success.

Many believe the show ended almost perfectly

Just because things didn’t go entirely to plan for the final season of ‘That ‘70s Show’ doesn’t mean it was all doom and gloom for the cast and fans. In fact, many argue it couldn't have ended better, with the network giving it the perfect send-off. In the end, the final episode takes place on New Year’s Eve.

This also just so happens to be the final day of the decade, with producer Mark Hudis later admitting he thought they would “wrap up the ‘70s while we wrap up the series.” The final moments of the show saw Kelso and Eric make their grand return, with the episode now having a  near-perfect IMDB score of 8.9/10.