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 function as Steven Hyde in That ’70s Present — was discovered responsible of two out of the three accusations of rape made towards him in a Los Angeles retrial yesterday (Could 31).
Now, following the decision, Cedric Bixler-Zavala has spoken out in regards to 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 towards Masterson again in 2022, and beforehand issued a separate civil lawsuit towards him.
In response to the civil case, Carnell-Bixler’s relationship with Masterson lasted for a number of years, and he sexually assaulted her a number of instances between the interval of 2001 and 2002.
Responding to the accusations with The Hollywood Reporter, Masterson issued a press release saying: “I’m not going to struggle 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 have the opportunity [to] be taught the reality and see how I’ve been railroaded by this lady.”
Following the declare going to courtroom, the choose in the end dominated that the case introduced ahead should undergo ‘spiritual arbitration’ inside 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 instances filed towards him, the Mars Volta musician posted an Instagram submit (which has since been deleted). Right here, he claimed to be “making a listing of all Danny’s helpers and rape apologists” in an try “to point out all of you why ladies don’t report rape”.
He additionally used the replace to point out his disdain for the Church Of Scientology. “We fucking advised 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. Could peace reign over my household. To everybody who spoke up and helped, thanks.”
Masterson was accused of three costs of rape, all going down at his dwelling between the interval of 2001 and 2003. He pleaded not responsible to all costs.
The case first went to trial final 12 months, though the jury was unable to achieve a verdict. The re-trial passed off this 12 months, and within the closing arguments, the jury had been advised that the actor drugged ladies’s drinks so he might rape them — counting on his affect within the Church of Scientology to keep away from dealing with any penalties.
“The defendant medicine his victims to achieve management. He does this to remove his victims’ skill to consent,” stated Prosecution lawyer Ariel Anson on the trial (by way of Sky Information). “The church taught his victims ‘rape isn’t rape, you precipitated this, and above all, you might be by no means allowed to go to regulation enforcement’… In Scientology, the defendant is a star and he’s untouchable.”
The church has denied having any coverage discouraging members from going to regulation enforcement.
Following their preliminary report towards Masterson, The Bixlers alleged the church started a relentless marketing campaign of harassment and threats towards them. This, they claimed, included poisoning their canines and stalking them.
Discussing the alleged harassment they confronted with the LA Occasions earlier this 12 months, The Mars Volta singer claimed that the church made his accomplice really feel accountable for the actions made towards her, and defined how his household nonetheless lives in worry of the church.
“I might see the disaster of religion in her once they made her really feel like this was her fault,” he stated. “My life is on the level the place if my cellphone rings in my home, my kids go and conceal beneath 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, nevertheless, the choose did instruct him and his attorneys to return to courtroom on August 4 for a listening to. The actor might withstand 30 years in jail.
In one other Instagram submit, Bixler-Zavala shared a tweet by Yashar Ali discussing the responsible verdict and wrote: “In case you’ve [been] sleeping beneath 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 stated 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 stated. “I’m not the choose. 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.