• Danny Masterson was convicted of rape and sentenced Thursday to 30 years to life in prison.
• “That 70s Show” fans now say Masterson’s conviction vindicates his former co-star Topher Grace.
• For years, rumors swirled about why Grace left the show early.

After the conclusion of Danny Masterson’s rape trial and his sentencing, ‘That 70s Show’ fans say the guilty verdict vindicates former costar Topher Grace from rumors that he was too “stuck” to date his castmates.

For years, rumors were swirling on why Grace didn’t seem close to the rest of the cast, which included Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama, in addition to Masterson.

Grace also left the show early, a year before the Fox sitcom ended. The actor, who played Eric Forman on the show, returned for a brief appearance in the finale.

Speculation about Grace’s tenure on the show resurfaced after Masterson, who played Steven Hyde on the show, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on Thursday.

At least three women – all former Scientologists – have accused Masterson of rape between 2001 and 2003. The women said Masterson used his position in the Church of Scientology to silence their accusations.

Grace is now trending on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fans say the case against Masterson absolved Grace of rumors that the lead actor thought he was too good for the sitcom.

“Topher Grace said I can’t stand any of you weirdos and he left that 70s show behind and he was so real for it,” one fan said. wrote in an article which has over 43,000 likes at the time of writing.

“Today I learned that ‘doesn’t get along with their teammates’ is another ‘hard to work with’ kind of thing in that it’s reserved for people who don’t co-sign Hollywood toxicity,” another wrote. “Topher Grace sleeps well tonight.”

“Finding out that Topher Grace always pissed off because he didn’t want to hang out with the rest of the cast outside of filming kind of reassures me that he might actually be a relatively honest person lol,” said writes a commentator. in another postwhich had over 35,000 likes at the time of writing.

In response to the message, another wrote that they had seen discussions about how Grace was described as “pretentious” and “boring” because he didn’t party with his mates.

Grace has not publicly commented on Masterson’s sentencing, and her representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

His wife, however, posted an instagram Friday, a story that appeared to reference news of Masterson’s sentencing.

“To every rape victim who is retraumatized by witnessing a societal debate and focuses their attention on what will happen to the RAPIST…I see you,” wrote his wife, Ashley Hinshaw.

Grace’s silence contrasts with that of her ‘That ’70s Show’ co-workers, Kunis and Kutcher, who wrote individual articles letters of support from Mastersonlegal journalist Meghann Cuniff reported for the first time.

Kutcher and Kunis, who are married, wrote letters praising Masterson’s character and asking Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo for leniency in sentencing him.

In his letter, obtained by Cuniff, Kutcher identifies himself as an actor, investor, philanthropist and “above all, a father,” writing admiringly of Masterson’s relationship with his 9-year-old daughter, whom he shares with his wife , Jewel. Phillips.

“We’ve traveled the world together, raised our daughters together, and shared countless family moments,” Kutcher wrote, adding that Masterson is a “great role model.”

Kunis also spoke about Masterson’s family values, saying his role as a husband and father to his daughter and wife has been “just extraordinary.”

Other prominent figures who have written letters of support for Masterson include the actor and his fellow Scientologist. John Ribisi; the actor Billy Baldwin, who is married to the half-sister of Masterson’s wife; and actors Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, who played Kitty and Red Foreman on “That 70s Show,” Cuniff reported.