LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Danny Masterson, the former star of 'That '70s Show, has been ‘expelled’ from the Church of Scientology after being convicted of raping three women, as per a report.
The actor has been declared a "suppressive person" (SP) by the church, which means he is no longer welcome and must be cut off by other Scientologists, including his former wife Bijou Phillips, and his family, Daily Mail reported.
Church still claims Danny Masterson is innocent and will appeal
However, as per a claim, the church still claims that Masterson is innocent of all charges and that he will appeal his 30-year prison sentence.
The church’s leader David Miscavige has decided to "clear the decks" ahead of an International Association of Scientologists coming up in London and does not want Masterson to be the topic of discussion.
"They are not going to make a public announcement," Jeffrey Augustine, a former Scientologist and private investigator who runs a website exposing the alleged wrongdoings of the church, told Daily Mail.
“They are telling Scientologists that he will file an appeal and that he is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted,” Jeffrey said.
Besides that, Scientologists also do not want to be "accountable" as a suit is coming up against Masterson. They are going to say they have nothing to do with Masterson anymore,' Augustine explained.
Danny Masterson was declared a suppressive person not because of a rape conviction
“They (church officials) declared Danny a suppressive person for not maintaining the high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons – but not because he was convicted of rape," Augustine said.
Augustine added that many Scientologists were unhappy with Masterson’s continued association with the church, especially after he was found guilty of raping three women between 2001 and 2003.
He said that some members questioned why their friends and family were declared SPs for minor offenses while Masterson was allowed to remain in good standing despite bringing "a horrible public relations situation" onto the church.
Danny Masterson's association with Scientology was questioned following his horrible public relations situation
“A lot of Scientologists were complaining that they have friends and family members that they can’t talk to because they were declared suppressive.
"They questioned why Danny Masterson was allowed to be a Scientologist in good standing when he’s brought such a horrible public relations situation onto the church with his felony rape convictions,” Augustine said.
One of Masterson’s accusers, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who attended a protest outside the Los Angeles courthouse on Saturday, October 21, along with another victim, said that the church should have expelled Masterson when she first reported him to them.
“They should have declared him an SP when I originally went to them,” Bixler said.
Bixler and the other two women who testified against Masterson are also suing him in a civil lawsuit which alleges that Masterson and the church harassed and intimidated them after they came forward with their allegations.
The trial is scheduled to begin in May 2024.
