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Danny Masterson’s Ex-Stepdad Says He ‘Turned to the Dark Side’ From Fame on September 18, 2023 at 6:52 pm Us Weekly

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Danny Masterson. Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

Danny Masterson’s former stepfather, Joe Reaiche, gave Us Weekly exclusive insight into how the actor — who was recently sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for rape — is not the same “good kid” he once raised.

“He changed after he had the hit show [That ‘70s Show] in 1998. That’s definitely true,” Reaiche, 65, told Us in September. “Because now he’s making money. Now he’s … famous.”

The former Australian rugby star was married to Masterson’s mother, Carol Masterson, throughout much of Danny’s childhood from 1985 to 1995. Looking back, Reaiche revealed to Us that he “didn’t see that part of his hubris,” claiming fame altered Danny’s persona.

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“So to see that, is it weird? On one side, yes,” Reaiche explained. “But knowing Hollywood … promiscuity, women, drinking, drugs seems to be the norm. You just don’t want to get caught up into it.”

Related: Danny Masterson’s Family Tree: Siblings, In-Laws, Wife and More

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Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in September 2023 after being found guilty on two counts of forcible rape that May. Ahead of his sentencing, several people close to the actor, including his wife, Bijou Phillips, penned letters to Judge Charlaine Olmedo advocating for Masterson’s character. In her letter, Phillips […]

Reaiche referred to the pitfall as “the dark side of Hollywood,” alleging that Danny, now 47, “went down the wrong road.”

Danny has always maintained his innocence, but in May he was convicted of two counts of rape that occurred two decades prior. During his Los Angeles trial, the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on a third rape allegation from 2001. The Ranch alum was sentenced to three decades behind bars on September 7.

“I’m not here to bash the kid because I raised him. He was fine,” Reaiche told Us, pointing out, “What he did after the divorce and separation is another transaction in itself. I didn’t control that.”

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Related: Danny Masterson’s Sexual Assault Allegations and Trial: What to Know

Danny Masterson made headlines in 2017 when he was first accused of sexual assault. He has since pleaded not guilty after being charged in June 2020 with allegedly raping three women. Four women claimed in March 2017 that the That ‘70s Show alum sexually assaulted them in the early 2000s. A fifth woman came forward […]

Reaiche recalled: “He was a good kid. He didn’t like school. He was an athlete. [He] had a great father.” However, Reaiche confessed, “He turned to the dark side for whatever stupid reason that he did.”

Danny’s parents, Carol and Peter Masterson, divorced in the 1980s and have both remained in his life, as has his younger brother, Malcolm in the Middle alum Christopher Masterson.

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Reaiche, meanwhile, shares biological kids and actors Jordan and Alanna Masterson — who took half-brother Danny’s last name — with his ex-wife Carol.

Bob Riha Jr/WireImage

Once a devout Scientologist, Reaiche, who raised the kids in the church, was excommunicated from Scientology 2005. He told Us that once he was declared a “suppressive person” by the church, his children disconnected from him. Reaiche said neither Danny nor his other children have spoken to him since.

Reaiche expressed sadness over everything that has happened, especially when it comes to Danny’s wife, Bijou Phillips, and their 9-year-old daughter, Fianna.

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Related: Danny Masterson’s Ups and Downs Through the Years: A Timeline

After guest appearances on various TV shows, Danny Masterson got his big break when he landed the role of Steven Hyde on That ‘70s Show. The FOX series, which premiered in 1999, followed teenagers coming of age in the fictional Wisconsin suburb of Point Place. Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, Topher Grace and Wilmer […]

“I feel for the kid, because he’s married. He’s got a kid. OK, people have made mistakes, but he is going to be out of [prison] when he’s 72, maybe never,” Reaiche said. “I feel for [Danny’s father] Peter, because that’s his son. Pete’s 75 years old. If this goes the way it is, he’s going to die before his son gets out, his mother’s going to die before he gets out … the consequences are just catastrophic.”

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He added: “The tragedy is he’s gone to jail. The tragedy is the women [who accused Danny of rape] went through that nightmare. The tragedy never ends.”

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

Danny Masterson’s former stepfather, Joe Reaiche, gave Us Weekly exclusive insight into how the actor — who was recently sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for rape — is not the same “good kid” he once raised. “He changed after he had the hit show [That ‘70s Show] in 1998. That’s definitely true,” 

​   Us Weekly Read More 

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What We Can Learn Inside 50 Cent’s Explosive Diddy Documentary: 5 Reasons You Should Watch

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50 Cent’s new Netflix docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs is more than a headline-grabbing exposé; it is a meticulous breakdown of how power, celebrity, and silence can collide in the entertainment industry.

Across its episodes, the series traces Diddy’s rise, the allegations that followed him for years, and the shocking footage and testimonies now forcing a wider cultural reckoning.

For viewers, it offers not just drama, but lessons about media literacy, accountability, and how society treats survivors when a superstar is involved.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

1. It Chronicles Diddy’s Rise and Fall – And How Power Warps Reality

The docuseries follows Combs from hitmaker and business icon to a figure facing serious criminal conviction and public disgrace, mapping out decades of influence, branding, and behind-the-scenes behavior. Watching that arc shows how money, fame, and industry relationships can shield someone from scrutiny and delay accountability, even as disturbing accusations accumulate.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

2. Never-Before-Seen Footage Shows How Narratives Are Managed

Exclusive footage of Diddy in private settings and in the tense days around his legal troubles reveals how carefully celebrity narratives are shaped, even in crisis.

Viewers can learn to question polished statements and recognize that what looks spontaneous in public is often the result of strategy, damage control, and legal calculation.

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3. Survivors’ Stories Highlight Patterns of Abuse and Silence

Interviews with alleged victims, former staff, and industry insiders describe patterns of control, fear, and emotional or physical harm that were long whispered about but rarely aired in this detail. Their stories underline how difficult it is to speak out against a powerful figure, teaching viewers why many survivors delay disclosure and why consistent patterns across multiple accounts matter.

4. 50 Cent’s Approach Shows Storytelling as a Tool for Accountability

As executive producer, 50 Cent uses his reputation and platform to push a project that leans into uncomfortable truths rather than protecting industry relationships. The series demonstrates how documentary storytelling can challenge established power structures, elevate marginalized voices, and pressure institutions to respond when traditional systems have failed.

5. The Cultural Backlash Reveals How Society Handles Celebrity Accountability

Reactions to the doc—ranging from people calling it necessary and brave to others dismissing it as a vendetta or smear campaign—expose how emotionally invested audiences can be in defending or condemning a famous figure. Watching that debate unfold helps viewers see how fandom, nostalgia, and bias influence who is believed, and why conversations about “cancel culture” often mask deeper questions about justice and who is considered too powerful to fall.

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South Park’s Christmas Episode Delivers the Antichrist

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A new Christmas-themed episode of South Park is scheduled to air with a central plot in which Satan is depicted as preparing for the birth of an Antichrist figure. The premise extends a season-long narrative arc that has involved Satan, Donald Trump, and apocalyptic rhetoric, positioning this holiday episode as a culmination of those storylines rather than a stand‑alone concept.

Episode premise and season context

According to published synopses and entertainment coverage, the episode frames the Antichrist as part of a fictional storyline that blends religious symbolism with commentary on politics, media, and cultural fear. This follows earlier Season 28 episodes that introduced ideas about Trump fathering an Antichrist child and tech billionaire Peter Thiel obsessing over prophecy and end‑times narratives. The Christmas setting is presented as a contrast to the darker themes, reflecting the series’ pattern of pairing holiday imagery with controversial subject matter.

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Public and political reactions

Coverage notes that some figures connected to Donald Trump’s political orbit have criticized the season’s portrayal of Trump and his allies, describing the show as relying on shock tactics rather than substantive critique. Commentators highlight that these objections are directed more at the depiction of real political figures and the show’s tone than at the specific theology of the Antichrist storyline.

At the time of reporting, there have not been widely reported, detailed statements from major religious leaders focused solely on this Christmas episode, though religion-focused criticism of South Park in general has a long history.

Media and cultural commentary

Entertainment outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Slate, and USA Today describe the Antichrist arc as part of South Park’s ongoing use of Trump-era and tech-world politics as material for satire.

These reports emphasize that the show’s treatment of the Antichrist, Satan, and prophecy is designed as exaggerated commentary rather than doctrinal argument, while also acknowledging that many viewers may see the storyline as offensive or excessive.

Viewer guidance and content advisory

South Park is rated TV‑MA and is intended for adult audiences due to strong language, explicit themes, and frequent use of religious and political satire. Viewers who are sensitive to depictions of Satan, the Antichrist, or parodies involving real political figures may find this episode particularly objectionable, while others may view it as consistent with the show’s long‑running approach to controversial topics. As with previous episodes, individual responses are likely to vary widely, and the episode is best understood as part of an ongoing satirical series rather than a factual or theological statement.

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Sydney Sweeney Finally Confronts the Plastic Surgery Rumors

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Sydney Sweeney has decided she is finished watching strangers on the internet treat her face like a forensic project. After years of side‑by‑side screenshots, “then vs now” TikToks, and long comment threads wondering what work she has supposedly had done, the actor is now addressing the plastic surgery rumors directly—and using them to say something larger about how women are looked at in Hollywood and online.

Sweeney at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival red carpet premiere of Christy

Growing Up on Camera vs. “Before and After” Culture

Sweeney points out that people are often mistaking normal changes for procedures: she grew up on camera, her roles now come with big‑budget glam teams, and her body has shifted as she has trained, aged, and worked nonstop. Yet every new red‑carpet photo gets folded into a narrative that assumes surgeons, not time, are responsible. Rather than walking through a checklist of what is “real,” she emphasizes how bizarre it is that internet detectives comb through pores, noses, and jawlines as if they are owed an explanation for every contour of a woman’s face.

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The Real Problem Isn’t Her Face

By speaking up, Sweeney is redirecting the conversation away from her features and toward the culture that obsesses over them.

She argues that the real issue isn’t whether an actress has had work done, but why audiences feel so entitled to dissect her body as public property in the first place.

For her, the constant speculation is less about curiosity and more about control—another way to tell women what they should look like and punish them when they do not fit. In calling out that dynamic, Sweeney isn’t just defending herself; she is forcing fans and followers to ask why tearing apart someone else’s appearance has become such a popular form of entertainment.


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