Netflix has severed all ties with Danny Masterson.
Amidst allegations, by three women, that the actor committed rape, the streaming company has finally decided to let Masterson go.
His character will be written off The Ranch.
“As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch,” a Netflix spokesperson said on Tuesday morning, adding:
“Yesterday was his last day on the show, and production will resume in early 2018 without him.”
The Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office have been conducting an investigation into the aforementioned allegations of rape for just under a year now.
There’s been growing pressure on Netflix to make this move ever since news broke of the scandal.
Why did it finally do so now?
According to The Huffington Post, a Netflix executive mentioned to the mother of a girl on his daughter’s soccer team on Sunday that he did NOT believe Masterson’s accusers.
As it turned out… this mother actually was one of Masterson’s accusers.
Fast forward 48 hours – after Netflix confirmed its director of global kids content had made this “careless” and “uninformed” remark – and Netflix made the decision to part ways with the actor.
Masterson, meanwhile, maintains his innocence.
In a statement released through his lawyer, the star says the following:
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. 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.
People Magazine first published a story about the allegations surrounding Masterson in March.
According to this disturbing report, all three of Masterson’s alleged victims were members of the Church of Scientology.
They claim the sexual assaults took place in the early 2000s, yet they were pressured by church leaders to remain silent.
However, Leah Remini told The Underground Bunker that her documentary about Scientology prompted one of the women to come forward with her story.
This woman, along with a second accuser, claim Masterson had sex with them while they were either asleep or passed out.
One of the women who has charged Masterson with rape was his girlfriend at the time, prompting Masterson’s attorney to say the following in March:
“The alleged incident occurred in the middle of their 6 year relationship, after which she continued to be his longtime girlfriend.
“When Danny ended the relationship she continued to pursue him …
“In fact, we are informed by the Church that the only demand [redacted] made of the Church after Danny broke up with her was asking for their help to intervene so the breakup would not be permanent.”
For the record, Masterson will be featured in new episodes of The Ranch when they hit Netflix on December 15.
He will appear in a few installments that have already been filmed for the next season, as well, because they were shot prior to his firing.
Authorities will continue to look into the serious allegations made against him dauring this time.