Celebrity
Actor Danny Masterson Convicted Of 2 Counts Of Rape
LA – After a jury found Danny Masterson guilty on two of three counts of rape in his second trial, in which the Church of Scientology played a significant part, “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs on Wednesday. He faces a prison sentence of 30 years to life.
Masterson’s wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, who had sat stony-faced throughout both trials, gasped when the conviction was pronounced and sobbed as he was brought into custody.
After debating for seven days over two weeks, the jury of five men and seven women decided. On the third count, which claimed Masterson had sexually assaulted a previous girlfriend, they could not reach a decision. The verdict had received an 8-4 vote in favor.
Masterson, 47, will remain behind bars until his sentence is rendered. There is no established date for sentencing.
“I am experiencing a complex array of emotions — relief, exhaustion, strength, and sadness — knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behaviour,” said one of the women, who Masterson knew as a fellow churchgoer and was found guilty of rape at his home in 2003.
In the statement, a second woman, a former girlfriend whose count caused the jury to reach a deadlock, said: “While I’m encouraged that Danny Masterson will face some criminal punishment, I am devastated that he has dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me.”
Masterson’s representatives declined to comment, although it is almost clear they will appeal.
Prosecutors retried Masterson in December after a deadlocked jury resulted in a mistrial. They said that between 2001 and 2003, he drugged and brutally raped three women at his Hollywood Hills home. All three women were church members then, and they claimed he utilized his status there to evade punishment for many years.
The three women bravely came forward and revealed their stories, and for that, we are grateful, said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a statement following the verdict on Wednesday.
Masterson’s attorneys cited no witnesses, and he declined to testify. The defense asserted that the acts were consensual and worked to undermine the women’s accounts by calling attention to changes and contradictions that they claimed indicated coordination between the parties.
Masterson, 47, will remain behind bars until his sentence is rendered. There is no established date for sentencing.
In his closing argument, defense attorney Philip Cohen reminded the jury of their instructions and said, “You should consider not believing anything the witness says if you find that a witness in this case intentionally lied about something.
The Church of Scientology had a major impact in the first trial, but it may have been even more influential in the second trial. Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo permitted expert testimony on church policy from a former member of the leadership of Scientology who has since become a well-known adversary.
In a statement following the verdict, the Church said that the “inclusion of religion in this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and impacted the due process rights of every American. The Church was not a party to this action, and according to centuries-old Supreme Court tradition, religion had no place in this legal process.
The accusers said on the witness stand that they were intimidated by certain Scientologists in the courtroom due to the high tension between current and former Scientologists.
Leah Remini, an actor and former church member who has emerged as its most prominent critic, occasionally attended the trial and held one of the accusers close to her during closing statements.
According to Remini, the two guilty convictions in the retrial are “a relief,” she wrote on Twitter. Heroes are the ladies who escaped Danny Masterson’s harassment. They have endured violent attacks and harassment from Danny’s well-funded legal team and Scientology for years, she wrote in her post. However, they persisted in their quest for justice.
Two of the accusers have filed a civil action regarding the alleged harassment.
Masterson, 47, will remain behind bars until his sentence is rendered. There is no established date for sentencing.
Scientology states, “There is not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers.”
L. Ron Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology in 1953 with many Hollywood-based adherents. The judge set restrictions on how much the prosecution may discuss the Church and mostly allowed it to be used as an excuse for why the women delayed so long to contact the police.
The women stated that when they reported Masterson to church officials, they were informed that they had not been sexually assaulted, were required to participate in ethics training, and counseled against reporting a member of such high standing to criminal enforcement.
Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller’s closing statement to the jury stated, “They were raped, they were punished for it, and they were retaliated against.” They were taught by science that there is no justice for them.
“Testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs” during the trial, according to the Church, were “uniformly false.”
“The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologists or not — to law enforcement,” the statement read.
Olmedo will hold a hearing the following week to establish how a lawyer for the Church of Scientology obtained information that the prosecution had sent to the defense. Links that the attorney unintentionally included in an email to Mueller served as the basis for the evidence.
People who claim they have been sexually abused are not routinely named by The Associated Press.
In this case, the testimony was explicit and intense.
According to the two women whose evidence resulted in Masterson’s conviction, he served them drinks in 2003, causing them to get drunk or pass out before he viciously raped them.
The third witness, Masterson’s then-girlfriend of five years, said she awoke to discover him raping her and had to yank his hair to stop him. Her testimony caused the jury to reach a deadlock.
Olmedo only let the ladies describe their state in the first trial but enabled the accusers and the prosecution to directly state that Masterson drugged the women in the second trial.
There were no drug-related charges against Masterson, and there was no toxicology data to support the claim.
The allegations were made when Masterson was at the height of his fame, appearing as Steven Hyde on Fox’s “That ’70s Show” from 1998 to 2006, the program that launched the careers of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace.
On the 2016 Netflix comedy “The Ranch,” Masterson reconnected with Kutcher, but the project was canceled when an LAPD investigation became public in December 2017.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni of Sexual Harassment
In an 80-page complaint, Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her after she declined his approaches.Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman has denied Lively’s allegations, calling them “false, outrageous.
Blake Lively has filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, charging the actor-director of inappropriate behavior and defamation related to their 2024 film, It Ends With Us. What was once thought to be a public relations campaign to promote the picture turned out to be a complaint.
Lively accuses sexual harassment, including unwanted kissing and sexual comments, throughout the filming. She further claims that Baldoni tried to tarnish her reputation after she declined his approaches.
Baldoni and his production firm, Wayfarer Studios, deny any charges regarding Blake Lively’s nude images or accusations.
Lively’s complaint targets not only director Justin Baldoni, but also key officials in his production firm and people accused of spreading false information about her.
This includes the film’s principal producer, Jamey Heath, Wayfarer co-owner Steve Sarowitz, and a number of others. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, angrily disputes Lively’s charges, calling them “false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious,” according to Entertainment Weekly.
Baldoni created a toxic workplace
According to Freedman, the actress even neglected to appear on site and made disturbances throughout filming, resulting in the picture’s dismal performance, including “threatening not to show up to set, threatening not to promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release.”
The Gossip Girl star’s complaint claims that Justin Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, and Wayfarer Studios “created a toxic workplace, ignored harassment complaints, and failed to protect the cast and crew.”
The dossier also claims that Baldoni recruited a public relations agency to create a revenge campaign before potential allegations were public.
According to the complaint copy received by People, Baldoni included sexually graphic and naked sequences, including those for an underage character, without Blake Lively’s agreement.
This contained a lengthy “virginity loss scene and an orgasm scene” that did not appear in the original work.
Blake Lively Nude
Baldoni allegedly asked intrusive questions regarding Lively’s intimate sexual encounters with her spouse, including questions about Blake Lively nude images, which she considered invasive and refused to address.
According to the lawsuit, while filming, Baldoni improvised physical intimacy with no previous discussion or choreography. This contained kissing sequences and a slow dance sequence.
According to People, one instance detailed in the complaint states that Baldoni “discreetly bit and sucked on Ms. Lively’s lower lip during a scene in which he improvised numerous kisses on each take.” He eventually “insisted” on shooting “over and over again.”
intrusive behaviours
Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath “repeatedly entered Lively’s trailer uninvited while she was undressed or breastfeeding her child.”
Baldoni and Heath put pressure on Lively to imitate full nudity during a birth scene, despite the fact that there was no prior agreement in the screenplay or contract.
Producer Jamey Heath allegedly showed Lively and her assistant a disturbing video of his wife giving birth without their consent.
Degrading remarks
Baldoni allegedly criticized Lively’s age and weight after giving birth, even phoning her trainer to encourage her to lose weight quickly.
He “often” described ladies in the office as “sexy”. To address the hostile work environment, a list of 30 protections was implemented.
Smear Campaign.
Prior to the film’s release, Baldoni allegedly orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively, afraid she might come out about her experiences.
Lively believes that her legal action would “pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics” and protect others who report mistreatment.
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Celebrity
MGK and Megan Fox Love Hate Relationship
MGK and Megan Fox have been in the news for years because of their turbulent relationship. Their four-year romance has been filled with drama, heartache, and passion. The attention is now more focused than ever after their recent breakup caused a stir.
Let’s examine this famous pair’s highs, lows, and potential future developments.
Allegations of a romance between MGK and Megan Fox began in 2020 when they met while filming the movie Midnight in the Switchgrass. What started as a short-lived romance quickly grew more intense, and the two often publicly displayed their love in bold ways.
When they announced their engagement in January 2022, MGK presented them with a unique two-stone ring “symbolic of their souls’ union.”
But this supposedly idyllic partnership wasn’t at all easy. Reports of heated fights, problems with trust, and emotional ups and downs started to surface behind closed doors. The couple’s tremendously passionate yet erratic relationship often made headlines during their time together.
MGK and Megan Fox Breakup
The Thanksgiving weekend in 2024 was a turning point. According to reports, Megan broke up with MGK after finding “upsetting material” on his phone.
This information led to sentiments of betrayal, which have been the main cause of their breakup. According to those close to her, the actress frequently felt disrespected and upset by MGK’s actions.
Megan is expecting the couple’s first child, which heightens the strain. According to sources, co-parenting negotiations are underway as the actress concentrates on her pregnancy. Despite the breakup, Megan is committed to providing a healthy environment for their pregnant child.
Meanwhile, MGK isn’t prepared to give up. Insiders claim that the 34-year-old artist is trying to regain Megan’s affection. He attempts to demonstrate his willingness to change with cryptic social media statements and public apologies.
According to a person close to the couple, MGK is extremely sorry for the problems that caused them to part ways. Megan, though, seems less likely to make amends. According to friends, she is tired of the drama and is concentrating on her own and her kids’ welfare.
Is the separation, however, truly irreversible? Although some say it’s final, others counter that their relationship’s sporadic nature offers room for future reunion.
MGK’s ex-girlfriend
The split’s more strange side story revolves around MGK’s ex-girlfriend Amia Miley’s previous accusations. On a recent podcast, she made startling allegations regarding MGK’s intimate behaviour during their past relationship. Even though it has nothing to do with his recent split from Megan, the article has raised more questions about MGK’s private life.
The musician hasn’t been doing well lately in terms of public opinion. Numerous admirers have characterized his acts as immature and untrustworthy, and they have voiced dismay. On the other hand, Megan has received a ton of support and recognition for her fortitude during this trying period.
Despite the heartache, Megan isn’t dealing with this alone. According to reports, she has received support from her ex-husband, Brian Austin Green, and his fiancée, Sharna Burgess. Sharna, Megan’s soon-to-be stepmother, has been consoling throughout the breakup.
For Megan, this odd bond has turned into a benefit. It demonstrates her capacity to preserve wholesome relationships for the benefit of her children. Megan is devoted to her son’s happiness, having three sons: Noah, Bodhi, and Journey.
It isn’t easy to foresee what will happen to Megan and MGK. Reconciliations have occurred when no one expected them to, and their connection has always been erratic. But according to many close to Megan, this time feels different.
MGK is having a difficult time
Megan appears to be concentrating on her pregnancy and mental health at the moment, and MGK is having a difficult time winning back her trust. One thing is certain: MGK and Megan Fox will continue to be tabloid favourites for the foreseeable future, regardless of whether they can reconcile or go their separate ways.
MGK and Megan Fox’s relationship reminds us that love can occasionally have a price, no matter how intense. Their experience also reminds us of a partnership’s value of open communication, respect, and trust.
It’s simple for spectators and fans to become enmeshed in the drama. Fundamentally, however, this is a very human tale of two individuals attempting to do what is best for themselves and their families while overcoming personal obstacles.
MGK and Megan Fox still haven’t written the next chapter. How this story ends—through co-parenting, reconciliation, or a complete break—will only become clear with time.
Celebrity
Megan Fox Says She’s Done with Machine Gun Kelly
Pregnant Megan Fox, despite her pregnancy with Machine Gun Kelly’s child, claims she will never live with the singer again. She stated that she would like things to remain platonic between the two.
Megan announced her pregnancy on November 12, only days before the couple divorced over Thanksgiving. She already has three children, Noah, 11, Bodhi, 9, and Journey, 7, with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green.
Megan Fox and Kelly have a long history of on-and-off dating, and suspicion immediately circulated that their current breakup was temporary.
However, a source close to Fox said that she is ready to break the cycle as she prepares to give birth to her next child.
According to a source for Us Weekly, Megan Fox is currently focusing on herself and her family. “She’s been working a lot this year, so she’s looking forward to spending time with her kids.”
Showing that she is serious about ending her chapter with Machine Gun Kelly, the insider revealed that the two “haven’t been in contact this last week,” further demonstrating that “things are not looking great between them right now.”
“She hopes that with them taking time apart right now, they will be able to have a healthy co-parenting relationship,” the insider said of Fox’s “table environment” for her baby.
Despite their no-contact condition, the source stated that Fox was “trying to focus on being positive” and looked forward to co-parenting with her ex. “No matter how she feels about MGK, she has a lot of love for him and is excited that they are going to become parents,” they told me.
“MGK is really letting Megan lead the way right now and is giving her space.”
Megan, who has stated that she believes she helped shape the rapper-turned-rocker into the person he is, has been relying on her ex-husband’s fiancée, Sharna Burgess, as she navigates the difficult breakup.
‘Sharna understands how tough it is to be pregnant and has been supporting Megan,’ a source told DailyMail.com last week.
‘She truly cares and feels for her. Breakups are terrible enough on their own, but being pregnant makes them worse.
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