Actor Danny Masterson was lately sentenced to 30 years to life for raping two girls that have been former members of the Church of Scientology.
He appeared in a number of sitcoms throughout his profession, together with That 70s Present, which aired from 1998 to 2006 on Fox and continues to get proven on TV by way of reruns.
The sequence co-starred Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, Laura Prepon, and Topher Grace, amongst others, who have been a part of a gaggle of pals navigating varied adventures within the Nineteen Seventies.
Masterson portrayed Steven Hyde through the sequence. A derivative sequel referred to as That 90s Present was launched on Netflix final 12 months.
As one would possibly anticipate, it introduced the previous 70s youngsters as adults, now grown up and coping with their life journeys within the Nineteen Nineties.
As a consequence of ongoing controversy connected to Masterson when the present was filmed, he didn’t return for That 90s Present whereas lots of his castmates appeared in episodes.
How did That 90s Present deal with Hyde’s absence?
Eric Forman (Grace) and Donna Pinciotti (Prepon) have been amongst That 70s Present’s romances throughout its eight-season run, and their relationship arrange the idea for the spinoff, That 90s Present.
The Netflix spinoff sequence targeted on Erica and Donna’s daughter, Leia Forman (Callie Haverda). A lot of That 70s Present’s unique characters returned with the unique actors as fundamental, recurring, or visitor stars.
Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp) and Purple Forman (Kurtwood Smith) have been again as fundamental solid members, portraying Leia’s paternal grandparents. In the meantime, Donna was among the many recurring characters with Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), whereas Eric (Grace) confirmed up as one of many visitor stars.
Kucher and Kunis additionally appeared as visitor stars, reprising their roles as Michael Kelso and Jackie Burkhart. They’d since had a son, Jay Kelso (Mace Coronel), who was featured as Leia’s love curiosity in That 90s Present.
Michael and Jackie additionally indicated they have been getting remarried, which appeared to close the door on any form of Hyde and Jackie relationship in That 90s Present.
The present was filmed in entrance of a stay studio viewers in Los Angeles between February 7 and July 21, 2022. On the time, Masterson had a pending prison trial.
His character, Steven Hyde, by no means appeared and was by no means talked about as soon as through the sequence on account of his controversy and ongoing prison trial.
A second season of That 90s Present was introduced however was postponed as a result of author’s strike. The hypothesis is that it is going to be launched someday in 2024.
Masterson was fired from one other Netflix present on account of rape expenses
Earlier than That 90s Present hit Netflix with out Masterson, he appeared in one other Netflix sitcom, The Ranch, along with his co-star Kucherson. Masterson portrayed Jameson “Rooster” Ford Bennett.
He appeared within the first three seasons of the scripted comedy however was fired in 2017 following a number of allegations of rape towards him and the continued investigation.
“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 mentioned in an announcement concerning the firing.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, a petition had began in 2017 calling for Netflix to cancel The Ranch as a result of controversy surrounding Masterson.
Nevertheless, the present ran for 5 extra seasons after his firing, with Kucher nonetheless starring within the sequence together with Debra Winger, Sam Elliott, and Elisha Cuthbert.
This previous Might, Masterson was convicted of raping two girls whereas a hung jury deadlocked a 3rd cost. As of Thursday, September 7, 2023, he was sentenced to 30 days to life in jail.
