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*This piece contains mentions of sexual assault.
Actor Danny Masterson, best known for playing Steven Hyde on That ’70s Show, must stand trial on three counts of rape involving three separate women, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled this week.
The judge made the decision after hearing live testimony from the women, who described in painstaking detail the alleged rapes by Masterson in 2001 and 2003 alongside how their membership in the controversial Church of Scientology affected how they processed and reported what happened.
A woman testified that 18 years ago, Masterson raped her in his bed while she was partially conscious.
“When I came to, he was on top of me,” said the woman, identifying herself only as Jen B. “The first thing I recall is grabbing his hair to pull him off.”
She testified that the actor had given her a drink with Vodka when she went to the actor’s house to pick up a set of keys. Twenty minutes later, her vision became blurry and she began to lose consciousness, after this, Masterson began to sexually assault her.
She then testified that he put her on the bed and raped her, and has limited memory of the encounter. She did say that she tried to fight back, but was unsuccessful.
Masterson’s former girlfriend Christina Bixler also testified and said was raped twice by Masterson while they lived together at his Hollywood Hills home when she was 23 years old. Another accuser told the court that she felt drugged after Masterson fed her a red alcoholic drink in April 2003. She woke up to him sexually assaulting her.
Masterson has denied the rape claims, calling them “outrageous.” His defense lawyer maintains consensual acts with all women and faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
You can contact the Rape Crisis Centre National 24-Hour Helpline at 1800 77 8888, at any time of day or night. They offer a free and confidential listening and support service for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted, sexually harassed or sexually abused at any time in their lives.