Danny Masterson has been booted from The Ranch, a terrible show no one should be watching. Netflix announced Masterson's ousting in a statement to the Huffington Post Tuesday. Masterson has been under investigation by both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in connection with multiple rape accusations for "just under a year."
Though Netflix's spokesperson did not specifically address those allegations, they did confirm that Monday was Masterson's final day on set. "As a result of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch," the spokesperson told the Post. "Yesterday was his last day on the show, and production will resume in early 2018 without him."
Netflix had received backlash for the handling of the Masterson allegations, particularly in light of their prompt firing of Kevin Spacey after the House of Cards's alleged history of sexual assault and harassment was revealed. Masterson's status as a Scientologist has also received attention in relation to the allegations, "at least three" of which came from women who were also members of the church.
"My wife is one of Danny Masterson's rape victims, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, singer of The Mars Volta and At the Drive-In, tweeted in November. "Of course Danny being the scumbag he is outed her by name a while ago with the help of his ding bat publicist Jenni Weinman. The Church of Scientology has been harassing us since last year when she pressed charges."
Chrissie Carnell Bixler spoke with the Daily Beast that same month, alleging that the Church of Scientology said that Masterson's celebrity status should be protected. "He flourishes and prospers in life," the church said, according to Bixler. "You protect that and reward that."
Masterson issued a new statement to Entertainment Weekly Tuesday, again denying the alleged early 2000s sexual assaults. "I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix's decision to write my character off of The Ranch," he said. "From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit. 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."
