At a time when studios and networks are actively cutting ties with figures accused of rape, sexual assault and harassment, one of the women that stepped forward to speak about Danny Masterson is left wondering why the serious allegations leveled at the actor haven’t received much of a response from Netflix.
Despite an LAPD investigation into Masterson allegedly “violently raping” multiple women, Netflix has not indicated that they plan to distance themselves from the actor. Rather, they are going ahead with the December release of their new batch of episodes of The Ranch, the comedy Masterson exec produces and stars in alongside Ashton Kutcher. Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who is one of the women alleging Masterson assaulted her, expressed her frustration with how Netflix is handling the matter.
“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,” said Bixler in a statement provided to The Daily Beast. “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. (Not the actual quote obviously.)”
Bixler says the way she’s been treated and dismissed is all too familiar to her.
“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,” explained Bixler. “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. My body doesn’t matter, because it doesn’t belong to me. The trauma and emotional pain doesn’t matter, because I just don’t matter. ‘Danny Masterson is a celebrity. He flourishes and prospers in life. You protect that and reward that.’ -direct quote from the Church of Scientology. I don’t matter. The other women don’t matter. Our pain means nothing, and we should be good little girls and shut our mouths.”
Bixler says she’s rejecting the notion that she and her fellow accusers are insignificant.
“No! I’m going to be an amazing woman who will NOT shut my mouth when I find out my rapist raped countless other women,” she said. “I will NOT shut my mouth when Netflix tries to make us feel like we don’t matter. We DO matter. We ARE important. We will see justice for what was done to us, and is continuing to be done to us … and for all those who knew/know and are either actively helping this serial rapist or are choosing to stay silent … YOU don’t matter.”
“Victims are taking back the power that was stolen from us, and things are going to change,” closed Bixler. “Netflix should write that down.”
Masterson’s representatives have been adamant that the actor is innocent of the damning allegations against him and that claims the Church of Scientology would ignore someone reporting a crime have been fabricated.
