Danny Masterson’s wife Bijou Phillips files for divorce after actor was sentenced 30 years to life for rape conviction
DANNY Masterson's wife, Bijou Phillips, has filed for divorce.
Her decision to leave her husband comes after he was sentenced to 30 years to life for rape convictions.
Bijou filed for divorce on Monday in a California court, TMZ reported.
Bijou's lawyer, Peter A. Lauzon, told the news outlet: "Ms. Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time. Her priority remains with her daughter.
"This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. Mr. Masterson was always present for Ms. Phillips during her most difficult times of her life. Ms. Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter."
Danny and Bijou's daughter is named Fianna Francis Masterson, nine.
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The couple began dating in 2004 and got married in 2011.
THE TRIAL TIMELINE
Danny - known for his role as Steven Hyde on That 70's Show - was accused of raping three women between 2001 and 2003 and charged on June 17, 2020.
At the time of the attacks, all three women were members of the Scientology church.
The victims said it took them years to come forward after Scientologists warned them against reporting the actor to police.
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One woman was allegedly told that she would be kicked out of the church unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Over the years, Danny continually denied all the allegations and went to court to fight them in October 2022.
After a weeks-long trial, jurors were "hopelessly deadlocked," causing a mistrial.
"While we are disappointed with the outcome in this trial, we thank the jurors for their service," the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said in a statement, via Fox News.
"We also want to give our heartfelt appreciation to the victims for bravely stepping forward and recounting their harrowing experiences."
Danny was tried again after a judge rejected the defense's motion to dismiss the charges, according to CBS News.
The jury selection for Danny's retrial began on April 17, 2023.
Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller said he "intends to introduce additional evidence at the retrial," adding that the court could expect to see new witnesses take the stand where he faced a sentence of 45 years to life.
On May 31, 2023, Danny was found guilty by a jury on two of the three rape counts against him.
On September 7, he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
MORE ABOUT BIJOU
Bijou was born on April 1, 1980, in Greenwich, Connecticut.
She is the daughter of the late John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas and model Geneviève Waïte.
Danny's soon-to-be ex-wife is an actress, singer, model, and socialite.
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Bijou started her modeling career when she was 13 years old, but switched to acting in her 20s.
She has appeared in movies such as Almost Famous, Bully, The Door in the Floor, Hostel: Part II, and Choke.
