And I totally get it. By writing a letter of support, you are effectively taking the side of your friend (your convicted and sentenced-to-30-years-to-life friend) and diminishing the victimization of the women he raped.

Yes, they are friends. Yes, you want to believe in the better personality traits of your friends.

But at some point in time, you gotta cut and run.

I actually thought that Kutcher had done exactly that when Masterson was fired from The Ranch, a show starring the two of them, immediately after the accusations came to light. I was fairly certain he had followed the path of Seth Rogen when James Franco did all his terrible crap. 

But I guess not. He and his wife wrote letters in support of their convicted friend that they claim they thought were only for the judge’s eyes. So you know they knew what they were doing was wrong.

This person you called a friend raped at least two women. Not allegedly. He did it and was convicted of it. And now you’re supporting him.

I had something similar happen to me when an old friend was accused, tried, and convicted of pretty terrible things I’d rather not mention and will not talk about so don’t bother asking. I lost touch with him for about a decade but, shortly after I discovered what he did (on a stupid criminals website, no less), he reached out via Facebook to become friends after nearly a decade and he DMd me to ask if I would write a character reference letter.

Based on what he did, how long we’d been out of contact, the fact that I could easily see him doing exactly what he was convicted of doing, and that I was working in government at the time, I declined both the reference request and even the friend request. I don’t feel bad about it at all. He chose what he did and needed to face the consequences. And I do know he spent time in prison but I’m fairly certain he has since been released.

Cut and run. It’s something you just have to do sometimes. Kudos to Topher Grace, Wilmer Valderrama, and Laura Prepon for knowing when to say when.