Ashton Kutcher resigns as chairman of anti-child-sex-abuse organisation amid backlash over Danny Masterson character letter

Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of Thorn, an organisation dedicated to combating child sexual abuse, has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Board.

This decision comes in response to the public backlash that followed his support for actor Danny Masterson, who was found guilty of raping two women.

In a letter dated September 14th, Kutcher expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the pain his endorsement had inflicted on survivors of sexual assault. He advocated for their rights, emphasising the historical silencing of victims of sexual abuse, saying, "Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced, and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences."

Kutcher made the decision to step down from his position after a period of reflection and discussions with survivors, employees, and Thorn's leadership.

He believed it was the responsible and necessary course of action, stating that he couldn't allow his "error in judgement" to divert attention from Thorn's essential mission of fighting against child sexual exploitation.

In his resignation letter shared by TIME, Kutcher extended a heartfelt apology to all victims of sexual violence and to Thorn's dedicated team, saying, "The mission must always be the priority, and I want to offer my heartfelt apology to all victims of sexual violence and everyone at Thorn who I hurt by what I did."

He also expressed remorse to the broader advocacy community for his actions, emphasising the importance of the cause.

Kutcher had previously testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2017, shedding light on the disturbing issue of online child abuse he had encountered in his work with Thorn. He also raised over a million dollars for the organisation through his participation in the 2022 New York City Marathon.

The controversy began when Kutcher, his wife Mila Kunis, and other former cast members of well-known TV shows penned letters in support of Danny Masterson during his sentencing proceedings. Kutcher's support for Masterson was heavily criticised given his prominent role as an advocate against child sex trafficking.

In the letter, Mila and Ashton spoke highly of Masterson and said he was an honest person. They also recommended the judge to lessen his sentence. Masterson was convicted for 30 years despite the recommendation.

Despite releasing a video explaining their support for Masterson was aimed at helping a friend and not discrediting rape victims, their apology appeared inadequate to many, with one victim calling for "radical accountability."

The resignation of Ashton Kutcher from Thorn's board has stirred a significant response within the advocacy community, highlighting the importance of addressing such issues responsibly.