Current:Home > MyDanny Masterson's wife Bijou Phillips files for divorce after his 30-year rape sentence -VitalWealth Strategies
Danny Masterson's wife Bijou Phillips files for divorce after his 30-year rape sentence
View
Date:2025-04-15 04:00:40
Bijou Phillips Masterson has filed for divorce from husband Danny Masterson over a week after he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women.
Phillips filed a petition to end their 11-year marriage on Monday in Santa Barbara court, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY. TMZ was first to report the news.
Phillips cited irreconcilable differences as the reason and listed the date of their separation as "TBD." Her petition, signed Sept. 15, requested spousal support as well as restoration of her name to Bijou Phillips and full legal and physical custody of their daughter, with Masterson receiving child visitation.
The two married October 2011 and share a 9-year-old daughter, Fianna Francis Masterson, together.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Phillips and Masterson for further information.
Phillips stood by Masterson throughout his two trials. She wept when the guilty verdicts were read on May 31 and showed similar emotion at times during his Sept. 7 sentencing hearing, when a judge handed down the maximum sentence allowed by law to the 47-year-old actor. Masterson will be eligible for parole after serving 25½ years but can be held in prison for life.
A jury of seven women and five men had found Masterson guilty of two counts of rape after seven days of deliberations. Both attacks took place in Masterson's Hollywood-area home in 2003 when he was at the height of his fame on the Fox sitcom "That '70s Show." The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on a third count, an allegation that Masterson also raped a longtime girlfriend.
Masterson maintains his innocence, and his attorneys have said they plan to appeal, contending there were problems with evidence and constitutional issues with his conviction.
Bijou Phillips called Danny Masterson an 'extraordinary husband' a month before divorce
In the character reference letter she wrote in support of her husband last month before his sentencing, Phillips said Masterson has been "a life-saving partner to me" over the course of 19 years together.
"Danny is an amazing father. Our daughter and I are heartbroken that he is not home with us. It has been very difficult without him here," she wrote. "We need him more than you can imagine. I know he has been convicted of serious crimes. But the man I married has only been an extraordinary husband to me and a devoted father to our daughter."
The letter, addressed to Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo and dated Aug. 14, was among dozens that Masterson's family and friends wrote — made public by The Hollywood Reporter — urging leniency in his sentencing.
Who is Bijou Phillips?
Phillips, daughter of "The Mamas and the Papas" singer-songwriter John Phillips and actor Genevieve Waite, was a model as a teenager and released an album before shifting to acting.
She has appeared in films including "Almost Famous" and television shows including "Raising Hopes" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Ashton Kutcherresigns from anti-child sex abuse nonprofit after supporting Danny Masterson
Contributing: Associated Press
veryGood! (55921)
Related
- RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law
- Analysis: Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris’ race shows he doesn’t understand code-switching
- Simone Biles wins gold, pulls out GOAT necklace with 546 diamonds in it
- Florida attorney pleads guilty to trying to detonate explosives near Chinese embassy in Washington
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- ‘Taking it off the speculative market’: These nonprofits help tenants afford to stay put
- When does Simone Biles compete next? Olympic gymnastics event finals on tap in Paris
- Why Simone Biles was 'stressing' big time during gymnastics all-around final
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Memo to the Supreme Court: Clean Air Act Targeted CO2 as Climate Pollutant, Study Says
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Analysis: Donald Trump questioning Kamala Harris’ race shows he doesn’t understand code-switching
- Sha'Carri Richardson wins her women's 100m opening heat with ease
- Attorneys for man charged with killing Georgia nursing student ask judge to move trial
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Florida-bound passengers evacuated at Ohio airport after crew reports plane has mechanical issue
- California dad missing for nearly 2 weeks after mysterious crash into street pole
- Imane Khelif, ensnared in Olympic boxing controversy, had to hide soccer training
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Police investigate death threats against Paris Olympics opening ceremony director
Sharon Stone shows off large black eye, explains how she got it
JoJo Siwa Shares Her Advice for the Cast of Dance Moms: A New Era
Blake Lively’s Inner Circle Shares Rare Insight on Her Life as a Mom to 4 Kids
Summer Music Festival Essentials to Pack if You’re the Mom of Your Friend Group
All-Star Freddie Freeman leaves Dodgers to be with ailing son
Léon Marchand completes his dominating run through the Paris Olympics, capturing 4th swimming gold