Remember when putting Ashton Kutcher in a rom-com pretty much guaranteed a box-office hit? Well, not anymore! Lately, Kutcher has virtually disappeared from the Hollywood scene, largely due to controversies that have severely damaged his reputation, both on and off screen.
Things really took a dip when he publicly supported his longtime friend Danny Masterson, who was convicted of sexual assault. However, this was not the only friendship that brought Ashton into controversy. His name also popped up in headlines tied to the infamous Diddy case, who, until recently, was facing serious charges. And all this renewed attention has dredged up some pretty cringeworthy moments from Kutcher’s past.
1. The Internet Never Forgets
Back in the early 2000s, Kutcher made a tasteless joke on MTV’s “Punk’d,” saying Hilary Duff, a very well-known actress at the time, was “one of the girls we’re all waiting for to turn 18,” lumping her in with the then-teenaged Olsen twins. At the time, he was 25. Some of you might argue we shouldn’t judge the past by today’s standards, but plenty of people feel it was creepy then and it’s creepy now. Sexualizing minors leaves no room for interpretation.
2. Standing By Danny Masterson
Kutcher and Danny Masterson go way back to their “That ’70s Show” days. Even though off-screen they were good pals for years, when Masterson was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to thirty years in prison, Kutcher (and his wife Mila Kunis) should have at least stayed quiet, but they did something worse. Even after the guilty verdict, they both wrote character letters to the judge asking for a lighter sentence for Masterson. Once those letters became public in September 2023, the backlash was intense.
3. Hollywood Wasn’t Impressed
Hollywood stars slammed Kutcher and Kunis in addition to the public’s criticism. Comedian Kathy Griffin shared how she’d reported her own brother for allegedly abusing children, arguing she didn’t want to hear excuses about sticking by a friend simply because of a close relationship.
Christina Ricci also weighed in around the same time, posting on Instagram that sometimes people we love “do horrible things,” and that discrediting victims “is a crime.” The timing made it pretty clear who she was talking about.
4. Ties to Diddy’s Scandals
Unfortunately, Kutcher’s relationship with Masterson wasn’t the only link to the Dark Side. When people found out about his connection to Sean Combs, aka Diddy, a lot of eyebrows were raised, especially after Diddy was arrested in 2024 on sex trafficking charges.
Old clips resurfaced of Kutcher laughing about the secrets he couldn’t spill from Diddy’s wild “White Parties.” In one 2019 “Hot Ones” episode, he joked, “Wow, okay, I’ve got a lot I can’t tell… can’t tell that story either.” Like, dude, you were aware of his behavior, yet chose not to take any action?
Either way, once Diddy’s legal troubles exploded, people started questioning how Kutcher could hang around someone facing such serious allegations. Even Joe Rogan (of all people) brought it up on his podcast, asking why stars like Kutcher hadn’t spoken out if they’d attended Diddy’s infamous parties.
5. Demi Moore’s Memoir Made Things Really Awkward
Kutcher’s ex-wife, Demi Moore, didn’t exactly help his reputation when she released her 2019 memoir, “Inside Out.” She revealed Kutcher cheated on her during their marriage and manipulated her into agreeing to threesomes, which she later deeply regretted. Moore explained she’d wanted to seem “fun” and “cool” for him, but those experiences ultimately led to Kutcher stepping out with other women.
One of his affairs came to light in 2011, when a 22-year-old woman spoke to Us Weekly about their fling while wifey was away filming. The betrayal left Moore devastated.
She also shared that Kutcher played a role in her relapse after nearly two decades of sobriety. She recounted a vacation where Kutcher questioned whether alcoholism was “real,” leading her to drink again. Trying to keep up with Kutcher’s party vibe spiraled into substance abuse that fractured her relationship with her daughters.
Kutcher wasn’t happy about Moore’s book and in a 2023 Esquire interview, he admitted he was furious, saying the press had finally left him and Mila alone, only for Moore’s memoir to drag everything back into the spotlight. You reap the consequences of your actions.
6. What’s Next For Kutcher?
It’s safe to say that Ashton Kutcher’s golden-boy Hollywood image has been completely and utterly destroyed for the fans. Between all those questionable ties, past dramas, and bombshells from his personal life, he’s got a long road to rebuilding his reputation. That is, if he chooses to pursue that path. For the time being, he is maintaining a low profile, but in the world of Hollywood, this is often not the final resolution.
