Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology Sued for Allegedly Stalking Sexual Assault Accusers
Four women who accused "That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson of sexual assault are suing the actor, the Church of Scientology, and leader David Miscavige for allegedly stalking them in an effort to silence them.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the women — two of whom are identified by name, the other two are Jane Does – claim the defendants engaged in "conspiracy to cover up that Daniel Masterson sexually assaulted four young women."
"When those women came forward to report Masterson’s crimes," the lawsuit claims, "the Defendants conspired to and systematically stalked, harassed, invaded their and their family’s privacy, and intentionally caused them emotional distress and silence and intimidate them."
The women claim that the Church of Scientology has rules against reporting crimes.
"Whether discovered during auditing or otherwise, Defendants forbid members from contacting police to report a crime committed by any member," they claim. "The Institutional Defendants instruct their members and agents that reporting such instances to law enforcement is considered a 'high crime' and subjects the member to punishment."
One of the women, Chrissie Bixler, dated Masterson for several years and joined Scientology "per his orders." She claims Masterson regularly forced her to have sex with him and "became violent" when she refused.
She claims on one occasion, after refusing to have sex with Masterson, he dragged her "naked across their bedroom floor while berating her appearance. He then threw her, still naked, into the hall and locked the bedroom door."
After this alleged incident, Bixler claims she was "required to do an 'ethics program' during which she told an employee about Masterson's sexually coercive and abusive treatment of her. The employee advised Plaintiff Bixler that her job as Masterson's girlfriend was 'to give him sex whenever he wants it' and that if she complied, 'these things wouldn't happen.'"
After she came forward with her allegations, Bixler claims her dog died inexplicably. She says she "requested an autopsy and learned that the dog died of unexplained traumatic injuries to her trachea and esophagus."
Bobette Riales, who also went public with her allegations against Masterson in 2017, claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Masterson on numerous occasions when the couple dated from 2002-2004. She accompanied him to an awards show in Canada during their relationship.
Riales claims after she went to the police, she has been followed, surveilled, and even had her trash stolen. She also believes her food truck was vandalized and broken into and she was given a series of false reviews about her business online.
She claims that one of her neighbors once observed a man in her driveway taking pictures. The neighbor chased the man off but that same night, her 13-year-old child's bedroom window was shattered.
Jane Doe #1 claims she met Masterson in 1999-2000 through her father and a friend, who was Masterson's assistant.
She claims they encountered each other several times over the years and he would make sexual advances towards her, which she says she rejected.
In September 2002, Doe #1 claims during a social gathering, Masterson provided her two drinks and she felt effects of the alcohol much stronger than she had ever felt before.
She says she ended up alone in Masterson's guest room (his assistant had arranged it) and fell asleep. Jane Doe #1 claims she awoke to Masterson having sex with her. She claims she fought him off.
In another instance a few years later, when she again felt disoriented after being given drinks by Masterson, she claims she passed out and awoke to Masterson raping her. Jane Doe #1 claims she "attempted to fight him off by shoving a pillow into his face, but he pushed it back down onto her face, making it difficult for her to breathe."
That is when she claims she "attempted to make noise, but Masterson picked up a gun off of his nightstand, pointed it at her, and told her to be quiet."
Jane Doe #1 claims she reported her allegations to the LAPD on June 6, 2004 but claims the defendants "mobilized against Jane Doe #1 to ensure no charges were filed."
Jane Doe #2 claims she became a member of the Church of Scientology when she was a child and was friends with Masterson's brother Chris.
She claims after giving Masterson her phone number, he invited her to his home. Like the others, Jane Doe #2 claims she was offered a drink and felt effects much stronger than usual.
Eventually, Jane Doe #2 claims Masterson sexually assaulted her in the shower and in his bedroom.
Jane Doe #2 claims she knew from he Scientology coursework that she would "Not be permitted to report the assault to civil authorities outside of Scientology."
She claims she did not suffer persistent harassment or stalking from the Church initially because she had not spoken openly about the alleged assault.
But in 2017, Jane Doe #2 claims she disclosed the assault to the LAPD. Since then, she claims to have had her phone and computer hacked, received numerous calls and texts from numbers associated with the Sea Org, She also claims to have had her car vandalized and was subjected to harassment on social media.
In one instance, she claims she was at the grocery store when she was approached by a business partner of Masterson. Jane Doe #2 claims the woman told her that Leah Remini was putting her "up to this" and asked why she and Bixler were "doing this to Danny?"
As a result of the various forms of harassment, Jane Doe #2 claims she "has rarely left the house in the two years since reporting the sexual assault to law enforcement."
Masterson first faced allegations of sexual abuse in 2017 and has denied all of the accusations against him.
He was let go from his Netflix series, "The Ranch," after the allegations came to light.
The women are suing for stalking and invasion of privacy, among other claims. They are seeking unspecified damages.
Through a rep, Masterson tells The Blast, "This is beyond ridiculous. I’m not going to fight my ex-girlfriend in the media like she’s been baiting me to do for more than two years. I will beat her in court—and look forward to it because the public will finally be able learn the truth and see how I’ve been railroaded by this woman. And once her lawsuit is thrown out, I intend to sue her and the others who jumped on the bandwagon for the damage they caused me and my family."