Real Housewives of New York’s Rebecca Minkoff has spoken out about her past connection to disgraced Danny Masterson.
The fashion designer, 43, appeared on the Monday, December 9, episode of the “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast and shared details of how she knew the convicted rapist in the past.
“When I started out, he was incredibly supportive to me,” Minkoff told podcast hosts Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge, noting that she hasn’t “seen or spoken to the actor” in 10 years.
According to Minkoff, she met “girls and actresses that were excited to wear my product” through fellow Scientologist Masterson while she was still an up-and-coming designer, adding that the That ‘70s Show alum introduced her to his famous friends who were willing to wear her designs.
Danny Masterson Found Guilty of Rape in Sexual Assault Retrial: Details
Minkoff did not weigh in on Masterson’s legal troubles, however, and told Mellencamp and Judge, “And that’s all I can say. I didn’t participate in the case. I don’t have details.”
Masterson was found guilty on two counts of forcible rape for incidents that occurred in the early 2000s. The actor, who has vehemently denied the allegations, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in September 2023. (That same month, his now ex-wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce. The pair share daughter Fianna, 10.)
Four women claimed in March 2017 that Masterson sexually assaulted them in the early 2000s. A fifth woman came forward in December 2017, claiming that while she was dating the actor, he “repeatedly raped” her.
Masterson maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty in January 2021 to three counts of rape. His first trial began in fall 2022, which ended in a mistrial. Masterson went back on trial in spring 2023 when he was convicted of two counts of rape.
Prior to the rape conviction, Masterson was best known for his role as Steven Hyde in That ‘70s Show from 1998 to 2006 and his role on Netflix’s The Ranch as Jameson “Rooster” Bennett from 2016 to 2018.
Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Sexual Assault Case
Meanwhile, Minkoff has touched on her ties to Scientology in the past and opened up about her beliefs during an appearance on the “Dinner Party With Jeremy Fall” podcast in October 2021.
“Scientology, which the word itself means knowledge,” Minkoff said at the time. “That’s all it means.”
She continued: “I’m Jewish so I have my beliefs with Judaism and God and I go to Scientology to learn knowledge,” she continued. “And that’s spiritual because I’m not working out my abs. We’re just separating the body from the spirit. It has personally helped me from my own demons, my own things I’m not happy about myself.”
