The Mars Volta‘s Cedric Bixler-Zavala has issued a response after actor and longtime Scientologist Danny Masterson was discovered responsible of two counts of rape.
Masterson — who was most famed for his position as Steven Hyde in That ’70s Present — was discovered responsible of two out of the three accusations of rape made in opposition to him in a Los Angeles retrial yesterday (Might 31).
Now, following the decision, Cedric Bixler-Zavala has spoken out concerning the disgraced actor and the Church Of Scientology.
The musician and At The Drive-In icon left the church again in 2017 after first becoming a member of again in 2009. His spouse, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, had additionally testified in opposition to Masterson again in 2022, and beforehand issued a separate civil lawsuit in opposition to him.
In accordance with the civil case, Carnell-Bixler’s relationship with Masterson lasted for a number of years, and he sexually assaulted her a number of occasions between the interval of 2001 and 2002.
Responding to the accusations with The Hollywood Reporter, Masterson issued an announcement saying: “I’m not going to battle my ex-girlfriend within the media like she’s been baiting me to do for greater than two years. I’ll beat her in courtroom – and sit up for it as a result of the general public will lastly find a way [to] be taught the reality and see how I’ve been railroaded by this lady.”
Following the declare going to courtroom, the decide in the end dominated that the case introduced ahead should undergo ‘non secular arbitration’ throughout the Church of Scientology. It’s because, when a member of the Church, Carnell-Bixler signed an settlement that requires disputes to be dealt with by the Church, not the courts.
Now, following the responsible verdict on two of the three rape circumstances filed in opposition to him, the Mars Volta musician posted an Instagram put up (which has since been deleted). Right here, he claimed to be “making an inventory of all Danny’s helpers and rape apologists” in an try “to indicate all of you why ladies don’t report rape”.
He additionally used the replace to indicate his disdain for the Church Of Scientology. “We fucking informed you. God bless the ladies that stood as much as him and his shitty fucking household. Fuck Scientology. Rot in jail Danny,” he wrote (by way of Stereogum). “God bless my spouse. True fucking warrior. Might peace reign over my household. To everybody who spoke up and helped, thanks.”
Masterson was accused of three expenses of rape, all happening at his dwelling between the interval of 2001 and 2003. He pleaded not responsible to all expenses.
The case first went to trial final yr, though the jury was unable to succeed in a verdict. The re-trial passed off this yr, and within the closing arguments, the jury have been informed that the actor drugged ladies’s drinks so he may rape them — counting on his affect within the Church of Scientology to keep away from dealing with any penalties.
“The defendant medication his victims to achieve management. He does this to remove his victims’ means to consent,” mentioned Prosecution lawyer Ariel Anson on the trial (by way of Sky Information). “The church taught his victims ‘rape isn’t rape, you induced this, and above all, you’re by no means allowed to go to regulation enforcement’… In Scientology, the defendant is a celeb and he’s untouchable.”
The church has denied having any coverage discouraging members from going to regulation enforcement.
Following their preliminary report in opposition to Masterson, The Bixlers alleged the church started a relentless marketing campaign of harassment and threats in opposition to them. This, they claimed, included poisoning their canine and stalking them.
Discussing the alleged harassment they confronted with the LA Occasions earlier this yr, The Mars Volta singer claimed that the church made his accomplice really feel chargeable for the actions made in opposition to her, and defined how his household nonetheless lives in concern of the church.
“I may see the disaster of religion in her after they made her really feel like this was her fault,” he mentioned. “My life is on the level the place if my cellphone rings in my home, my kids go and conceal underneath their mattress… My youngsters know a monster did one thing dangerous to their mother.”
At time of writing, no sentencing date has been set for Masterson, nonetheless, the decide did instruct him and his attorneys to return to courtroom on August 4 for a listening to. The actor may withstand 30 years in jail.
In one other Instagram put up, Bixler-Zavala shared a tweet by Yashar Ali discussing the responsible verdict and wrote: “In case you’ve [been] sleeping underneath a fucking rock positioned there by scientology. My spouse and the survivors did the unthinkable. Go forward and ship her love. She wants it.”
Again in February, That ‘70s Present co-star Ashton Kutcher opened up about allegations dealing with Masterson and mentioned he hoped that the accusations are false, as Masterson had been an enormous mentor for him all through his profession.
“Finally, I can’t know,” he mentioned. “I’m not the decide. I’m not the jury. I’m not the DA. I’m not the sufferer. And I’m not the accused. And so, in that case, I don’t have an area to remark. I simply don’t know.”
For assist, recommendation or extra data concerning sexual harassment, assault and rape within the UK, go to the Rape Disaster charity web site. Within the US, go to RAINN.