Danny Masterson appeals rape conviction citing bias.

4 hours ago7 min read5 comments

The Hollywood scandal machine has churned out another jaw-dropping appeal, and this one is dripping with the kind of dramatic tension you’d expect from a prestige limited series. Former 'That 70s Show' star Danny Masterson, once the cool-guy heartthrob Steven Hyde, is now fighting his 30-years-to-life prison sentence from behind bars, and his legal team is pitching a narrative so spicy it could fuel a season of legal drama.Filed on Monday, the lengthy motion doesn’t just claim simple legal errors; it paints a picture of a perfect storm where a bungling defence lawyer met a police force allegedly obsessed with taking down Scientology, Masterson’s controversial church. Let’s unpack this, because the layers are more intricate than a red-carpet look at the Oscars.Masterson, 49, was convicted in September 2023 on two counts of rape from incidents in the early 2000s, a period when his star was blazing bright on the Fox sitcom. The trial itself was a media circus, but the appeal shifts the spotlight from the horrific accounts of the two survivors to the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that his lawyers claim deprived him of a fair shot.They’re arguing that his original attorney was asleep at the wheel, failing to object to key pieces of evidence and missing crucial opportunities to cross-examine witnesses effectively. But the real headline-grabber is the accusation of religious bias within the LAPD.The motion suggests investigators were so blinded by their disdain for the Church of Scientology—of which Masterson is a prominent, long-standing member—that they pursued him with an almost crusader-like zeal, potentially tainting the entire investigation. This isn't just a simple 'he said, she said' anymore; it's a clash of titans between Hollywood privilege, a powerful religious institution, and a justice system under scrutiny.The Church of Scientology, no stranger to controversy and legal battles, has historically been a fortress, fiercely protective of its members and its secrets. This appeal thrusts it back into the center of a cultural conversation about whether an individual can get a fair trial when their faith is viewed with such widespread suspicion.Legal experts are already buzzing, noting that while claims of ineffective counsel are common in appeals, coupling it with an allegation of systemic anti-religious bias in a police investigation is a much heavier lift, a Hail Mary pass in a high-stakes game. If this appeal gains traction, it could force a re-examination of how deeply personal beliefs can influence the machinery of justice, setting a precedent that would ripple far beyond this one case.For the survivors, this is undoubtedly a painful re-opening of old wounds, a forced re-live of a trauma they thought had been resolved with a guilty verdict. For the public, it’s another chapter in the slow, painful reckoning of the #MeToo era, a reminder that a conviction is not always the final curtain call. As we watch this drama unfold in the appellate courts, far from the glamour of a Hollywood premiere, the question remains: is this a legitimate quest for justice, or the last, desperate performance of a man who had it all and lost? The final review is still out, and the audience is waiting.

#Danny Masterson

#rape conviction

#appeal

#Scientology

#legal motion

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