Twitter Blasts Netflix For Working With Danny Masterson After Rape Allegations

A woman who accused Danny Masterson of rape spoke out against Netflix Thursday for renewing with the actor’s show “The Ranch” and continuing its working relationship with the actor. Four women have accused the star of raping them in the early 2000s, according to a report published earlier this month by the Huffington Post.

Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one of the four accusers, told the Daily Beast, “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.”

“I will NOT shut my mouth when Netflix tries to make us feel like we don’t matter. We DO matter. We ARE important,” Bixler added.

Bixler, who claimed that the Church of Scientology brushed her allegations against Masterson aside, accused the streaming giant of doing the same.

Twitter users also echoed her comments and blasted Netflix for not taking actions against Masterson as they did when allegations surfaced against Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K.

“We are aware of the allegations and the subsequent investigation, and will respond if developments occur,” a Netflix spokesman said in a statement emailed to HuffPost. Netflix first announced on Oct. 17 that "The Ranch: Part 4" will premiere in December, seven months after news of the Los Angeles Police Department investigation was first made public in March by journalist Tony Ortega, who is best known for his daily blog about the Church of Scientology called "The Underground Bunker."

Ortega's post showed documents that stated that the LAPD had been investigating Masterson, who is a Scientologist, for "at least three alleged cases of rape or sodomy of women who were also Scientologists and who claim they were pressured by the Church of Scientology not to contact police or go public with their accusations."

In a statement in March, the LAPD confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that it was conducting an investigation into the matter. The LAPD also said that three women came forward and said they were sexually assaulted by Masterson in the early 2000s when he was a well-known star on "That '70s Show."

Earlier this month, reporter Yashar Ali followed up with a report for Huffington Post and reported that four women had by then accused the actor of raping them in the early 2000s. But according to Ali's report, the LAPD investigation, which was said to have started in 2016, had stalled.

Bixler has called out the streaming service as it was seen taking a markedly different approach after longtime star Kevin Spacey had been accused of sexual misconduct. Netflix cut ties with the "House of Cards" actor and suspended the production of the show.

Also after allegations against Louis C.K. surfaced, Netflix canceled his second stand-up special that was supposed to premiere exclusively on the streaming giant. However, Netflix has not made any such moves since the accusations of rape against Masterson have surfaced.

A representative for Masterson has denied all the allegations against the star in a statement, the Independent reported earlier this month. Masterson has been a longtime member of the Church of Scientology, and claimed the allegations had been motivated by a producer on the anti-Scientology series "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath."

The statement also claimed that one of the accusers had been his longtime girlfriend who continued dating the star even after the alleged incident, saying: "The alleged incident occurred in the middle of their six-year relationship, after which she continued to be his longtime girlfriend."