Danny Masterson written out of ‘The Ranch’ amid sexual assault investigation
Danny Masterson, who has been fired from Netflix's "The Ranch," denies the allegations made against him. Credit: Getty Images for Netflix / Anna Webber
In the wake of sexual-assault accusations by four women, actor Danny Masterson has been fired from his Netflix sitcom “The Ranch.”
“After discussing with the producers, we’ve decided to write Danny Masterson off of ‘The Ranch,’ ” the streaming service tweeted Tuesday morning. “Yesterday was his last day of work, and we’ll make new episodes in 2018 without him.”
In March, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement it was investigating the actor after three women had “disclosed that they were sexually assaulted by Masterson during the early 2000s.” A fourth woman later came forward. Masterson, 41, has denied the allegations and has never been arrested or charged.
The actor, who was born on Long Island and raised in Garden City and East Willison, said in a statement Tuesday, “I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of ‘The Ranch.’ 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.”
He added, “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. In the meantime, I want to express my gratitude to the cast and crew that I’ve worked so closely with over the past three seasons. I wish them nothing but success. I am also so thankful to the fans that have supported me and continue to do so.”
“The Ranch,” starring Masterson’s former “That ’70s Show” castmate Ashton Kutcher as a former semipro football player who returns home to Colorado to help run his family’s ranch, has aired 30 episodes since premiering in April 2016. An additional 10 episodes are scheduled to premiere Dec. 15. Masterson will appear in some of the episodes, according to reports.
