Bijou Phillips divorces Danny Masterson after rape conviction reports

Bijou Phillips divorces Danny Masterson after rape conviction – reports – bbc.com

1 hour ago

Image source: Getty Images

image description,

The couple married in 2011 and have one child together

US actress Bijou Phillips has reportedly filed for divorce from Danny Masterson less than two weeks after the That ’70s Show star was jailed on two counts of rape.

Ms Phillips, 43, cited “irreconcilable differences” between the couple after 12 years of marriage, according to documents seen by US media.

She was in court earlier this month when Masterson, 47, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.

The couple has one child together.

Lawyers for Ms. Phillips and Masterson did not immediately respond to BBC requests for comment on Tuesday.

But Peter Lauzon, Ms Phillips’ lawyer, confirmed the divorce filing in a statement to US media, saying: “Your priority remains.” [their child].”

Mr. Lauzon’s statement added that Masterson “has always been there for Phillips in her most difficult times” and “is a wonderful father.”

“She hopes everyone will respect her family’s privacy during these difficult times,” he wrote.

The divorce petition, reportedly filed in Santa Barbara Superior Court on Monday, seeks full custody of their child as well as spousal support.

It also aims to “end the court’s ability to provide support” to Masterson and requires that her assets be divided as separate property.

The two got engaged in 2009 and married in Ireland in 2011.

Ms. Phillips, a former teen model and singer-turned-actress, stood by her husband during his lengthy trial in three rape cases dating back to 2003.

The jury deadlocked on every count against Masterson last year, resulting in a mistrial.

But in May, a different jury convicted him on two of three counts. Two women said he mixed drugs into their drinks and violently assaulted them.

In a letter to the judge before his sentencing on September 7, Ms Phillips described Masterson as “a life-saving partner to me”, adding that she was “unfortunate that he is not at home with us”.

After the verdict, she was seen crying in court and her husband blew her a kiss as he was led out of court.

The divorce adds to the ongoing fallout from the Masterson conviction.

His former co-stars, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, were forced to apologize after backlash over their own pre-sentence letters to the judge advocating for their leniency.

Mr Kutcher has also resigned from Thorn, a charity he founded to combat child sexual abuse.