One of the women who has accused actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson of sexual assault has come forward with a statement criticizing Netflix for appearing to ignore the multiple allegations against Masterson, who co-stars with Ashton Kutcher in the Netflix series The Ranch.
Publicly identifying herself for the first time, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, a former Scientologist who was once in a relationship with Masterson, gave a statement to the Daily Beast, explaining that she “can no longer be silent.”
It reads, in part:
“I was sick when I read Netflix’s statement on continuing with The Ranch and continuing their working relationship with a man who has violently raped and abused so many women. Four months after the story broke, and the LAPD confirmed a criminal investigation, Netflix ordered another season of The Ranch. After the HuffPost piece, and the journalist reaching out 15 times to get a statement from Netflix, [they] ultimately said they will continue to work with Masterson until something develops ….
For me, what Netflix has done, feels like a continuation of how the Church of Scientology made me feel when I reported my rape to them, as well as how Danny Masterson made me feel when I would beg him for an apology, an explanation, anything. I was made to feel unimportant. I was made to feel like I didn’t matter. Like what Danny Masterson did to me didn’t matter.”
READ MORE: Scientology Scandal: Actor Danny Masterson accused of sexual assault by multiple women
As CrimeOnline previously reported, four women have accused Masterson of sexually assaulting them, and in some cases, quite violently. Three of his accusers are believed to be current or former Scientologists, and one woman told police that Masterson choked her to the point that she passed out when she woke up during an alleged assault. All of the incidents are believed to have taken place in the early 2000s, when Masterson was starring on That 70s Show.
According to a recent Huffington Post investigative report, a source in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office said at least one of the cases was being “slow-rolled.” No criminal charges have been filed against Masterson despite multiple police reports and reportedly compelling material evidence, including audio tapes and a threatening letter Masterson allegedly sent to one of his accusers.
And Netflix has addressed the accusation only with a cursory statement to the Huffington Post, after the most recent allegations against Masterson were published.
“We are aware of the allegations and the subsequent investigation, and will respond if developments occur,” Netflix said in the original statement.
Asked by the Daily Beast to comment further in light of Bixler’s statement, a spokesperson reportedly said that Netflix did not have anything more to add.
Bixler says she will continue to pressure Netflix to respond to the allegations, and that she refuses to be silenced.
“I will NOT shut my mouth when Netflix tries to make us feel like we don’t matter,” Bixler said in the statement.
“Victims are taking back the power that was stolen from us, and things are going to change. Netflix should write that down.”
Feature image: Associated Press
