On September 7th, Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years-to-life for his conviction on two counts of rape. It took years to get the case to trial, then the first one ended in mistrial, then Masterson was convicted in May. His wife Bijou Phillips stayed with him through all of it, showing up to court with him every day and having her friends brief People Magazine about how she would never leave him. Then, last week, she filed for divorce. My first concern was about what Scientology would do to her. Other people (correctly) suggested that CoS might be fine with this divorce because it’s all about protecting Bijou’s assets. Maybe she won’t face the wrath of CoS because it seems like divorce might have even been something she and Danny agreed on.
Bijou Phillip’s divorce filing against Danny Masterson seemed shocking considering her very public support of the actor, but behind the scenes, it wasn’t a big surprise … TMZ has learned.
Sources close to the estranged couple tell TMZ Masterson knew the divorce docs were coming, so he wasn’t blindsided as many had suspected. We’re told Danny and Bijou’s main concern now is to protect their daughter from upcoming appeals and legal challenges.
As we reported, Danny was sentenced to 30 years to life behind bars for two rape convictions.
Many speculated Bijou’s divorce filing could be an attempt to protect their daughter’s future assets if civil lawsuits follow … though the exact reason she filed is still unclear.
As we reported, Bijou was steadfast in her support of Danny throughout his trial … even writing a letter to the judge and praising Danny for his character and her trust in him as a father and partner.
“Bijou’s divorce filing could be an attempt to protect their daughter’s future assets if civil lawsuits follow…” See, I never really considered either of them to have a huge cash flow, although Bijou is a nepo baby and it’s likely she inherited money from her late father. Maybe they don’t have much money (especially after they pay the lawyers) and Bijou is just trying to protect what she does have before all of Masterson’s victims start suing.
There are also some shenanigans with Masterson and Phillips’ real estate – I think they owned two homes for years and the Mail was trying to say that Bijou and Danny lived separately for five years, but Masterson’s lawyer denies that.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Backgrid.
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- Los Angeles, CA – Jury deliberations resumed today in the rape trial of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson, one day after jurors were ordered to begin anew with two alternates added, following news that two panelists had tested positive for COVID-19. Pictured: Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips BACKGRID USA 29 NOVEMBER 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: no byline@backgrid.com / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – Jury deliberations resumed today in the rape trial of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson, one day after jurors were ordered to begin anew with two alternates added, following news that two panelists had tested positive for COVID-19. Pictured: Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips BACKGRID USA 29 NOVEMBER 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: no byline@backgrid.com / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – Danny Masterson is seen arriving in court today with wife Bijou Phillips, as jury is believed to be issuing their verdict today in his rape retrial case. The jury has been deliberating for over a week in the rape retrial after the first ended in a mistrial in December, with a jury deadlocked on all counts. Pictured: Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips BACKGRID USA 30 MAY 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – Danny Masterson is seen arriving in court today with wife Bijou Phillips, as jury is believed to be issuing their verdict today in his rape retrial case. The jury has been deliberating for over a week in the rape retrial after the first ended in a mistrial in December, with a jury deadlocked on all counts. Pictured: Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips BACKGRID USA 30 MAY 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Hollywood, CA – **FILE PHOTO** Danny Masterson Found Guilty In Rape Trial. Pictured Here: Danny Masterson at the Olympus Has Fallen film premiere at The ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles, California. March 18, 2013. Pictured: Danny Masterson BACKGRID USA 31 MAY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- -Jersey City, New Jersey – 6/4/2016 – The Ninth Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. -PICTURED: Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips -PHOTO by: Fernando Lucena/startraksphoto.com -LUC_3858 Editorial – Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.startraksphoto.com for licensing fee Startraks Photo New York, NY For licensing please call 212-414-9464 or email sales@startraksphoto.com Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damages. Image may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have. Featuring: Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips Where: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States When: 04 Jun 2016 Credit: Fernando Lucena/startraksphoto.com
Yep she is protecting the assets nothing more. Unfortunately she won’t talk to a de-programmer and get out of the cult. I guess you can’t help those who don’t want help. She was photographed still wearing her wedding ring so I doubt she is leaving him just protecting assets. She is more than willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that he is a rapist.
There’s no question it’s to protect assets, regardless of the amount. They will push this through quickly and “uncontested” so as to be on record as separate entities before civil suits are filed. I’m sure *any*every*thing in joint names had be transferred during the trial; filing is just the “legal” end.
You don’t go from hysterical in court, from “I’ll never leave you!!”, and vows to stand by his side to cooly, unemotionally filing 2-3 days after sentencing. Paperwork was in place for sure.
When the news broke I assumed it was to protect assets. She stood by him this long, she’s still a believer. Ugh.
Yep. The only hope is that if this is to protect assets, if she does ever come to her senses she is conveniently not tied to him…but is all about keeping the victims from any kind of compensation
Of course they have boatloads of money. His residuals from that 70’s Show alone would ensure that. Add in their investment portfolio and the interest it is accruing every day and yes, they have plenty of money. His whole “I had to work the land at my vineyard to provide for my family” was just PR hogwash trying to gain sympathy for him and Bijou.
If the divorce successfully protects their money I hope she is included in any lawsuits because there is no way she didn’t know about his controlling predilections and I seriously doubt she didn’t know about the rapes.
A lot of those residuals are most likely in $cientology’s bank account now.
Called it. This is done all the time with rich folks when one of them has the potential for massive liability suits. This way he can beg poverty because he is “paying support” and give Bijou and their daughter all of his assets in the divorce.
One thing that I haven’t seen addressed is this : If Danny’s appeals fail and he is forced to stay in prison for a very long time, what are the odds he becomes deprogrammed from CoS? I know some people find religious or their believes become stronger when they end up in prison but those religious beliefs are based on actual religions. The CoS was made up by a drugged up science fiction writer on a lark and turned into a massive scam. (I know all religions are made up by humans but the CoS isn’t based on a philosophy espoused by a revered person(s) who taught good things to the masses.)
If Danny does “lose faith” (I think he’s in on the scam and doesn’t actually have spiritual beliefs) how will CoS treat him? Leak all his secrets? Have him murdered to keep him silent about what he knows (you just know he knows a lot of people’s dirt and he has it documented somewhere safe)? Send money to a secret account to buy his silence?
I doubt they have much money. Probably 1-2 million. Her dad probably frittered everything he had on wives and drugs, and we know residuals pay hardly anything. Unless you negotiated it like the cast of friends did.
And I’m sure Scientology ate up whatever Danny had. So I’m going with very little.
Streaming residuals may be small to non-existent, but broadcast residuals pay plenty. That show has been in syndication for quite some time, so they’re not broke.
I don’t have a clue about their marriage or money situation. But I do know that the only person convicted of a crime was Masterson. So yeah, she should protect herself and her child from civil lawsuits.
And this assumption that a woman always ‘knows’ that her husband committed a crime or was the kind of person who would is BS.
You are 100% correct, AND it is also probably correct that she is more interested in doing Scientology’s bidding than protecting herself and her child. I haven’t seen a thing about her, ever, that leads me to believe she would make any decisions like this to protect herself. She is a true believer and seems like an unequal partner in her relationship (at least that’s how it appears to me). The whole vibe comes off as, “they know best, so I just do what I’m told.”
There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Scientology wants the family’s assets in her hands as much as possible, both so they can exploit them and so they can withhold them from anybody who could be entitled to them in a civil suit. Where would Scientology be without spite and money they brow beat out of their members?
According to the DM, so take that with a grain of salt, Danny and Bijou have been separated and living apart for 5 years. They sold their property in LA and were living in the Santa Barbara area?
I think this is all a strategic move to protect her assets and to protect whatever monies Danny has from civil lawsuits from his victims. I’m assuming Bijou gets royalties from her father’s songwriting and music. But I’m sure she splits that with her siblings. It’s probably enough to live on.
I’m sure she is doing whatever CoS is telling her to do. Sad that so few people escape that crap.
I mean did she really want to be known as married to a convicted rapist. I don’t think so.
I can’t unsee the difference in their waistline levels. Does she have very long legs, very short torso or does he have very short legs?
😂🤣 So funny! Yea about the same height but their waists are miles apart! In high school my 6’4” brother would borrow my jeans and I am 5’10”. He had a long torso and I was/am short waisted with long legs.
I think her wearing heels is accounting for at least some of that disparity.
I think it’s because he’s wearing low cut pants below the belly and she’s wearing high cut pants above the belly. I always understood that he did well in real estate flipping houses in trendy neighborhoods but I could be wrong. I think I remember a blind about them years ago where they went to go visit a house and had sex in it.
How does the money aspect of things works with scientology ? Because I always thought that followers’ money was going straight into the organisation but now I’m not sure about that.
That was my thought. I also think this isn’t so much about protecting Bijou’s assets, or their daughter’s assets, but his assets & therefore the CoS’s assets.