A Netflix executive reportedly defended 'The Ranch' star Danny Masterson to one of his rape accusers
- A Netflix executive unknowingly told one of Danny Masterson's four rape accusers that Netflix doesn't believe the allegations against him, according to a HuffPost report.
- Netflix confirmed the interaction took place in a statement, while distancing the company from the views of the executive, Andy Yeatman.
- The LAPD opened an investigation into the allegations against Masterson in March, but no charges have been filed.
- Masterson has denied all allegations against him.
A Netflix executive reportedly told a woman that Netflix didn't believe the rape allegations against actor Danny Masterson, not knowing the woman was one of Masterson's four accusers, according to a HuffPost report.
The anonymous alleged victim told HuffPost that she approached Andy Yeatman, Netflix's director of kids' content, at a children's soccer game on Sunday to ask why the company hadn't taken action against Masterson, who stars and is an executive producer on the Netflix series "The Ranch" and has been accused of raping four women.
The woman told the outlet that Yeatman said, "We don't believe them," when asked about Masterson's accusers. She said she then replied, "I'm one of them," and walked away. She said their conversation resumed an hour later, when Yeatman told her that he didn't know she was one of Masterson's accusers.
"Netflix is going to regret this, this is a mistake, they're going to see," the woman said she told Yeatman.
She said Yeatman's response was, "We'll see."
A Netflix spokesperson denied that Yeatman said, "We'll see." In a statement, the company characterized its executive's comments as "careless" and "uninformed" in a statement.
"While he was coaching a youth soccer match today, Mr. Yeatman ― a Netflix kids' programming executive ― was approached by a stranger who did not identify herself or explain her connection to Danny Masterson," Netflix said in a statement to HuffPost (and Business Insider). "Mr. Yeatman's comments were careless, uninformed and do not represent the views of the company. Further, he would have no insights into decision making on 'The Ranch.' We are aware of the allegations against Danny Masterson and we are following the current investigation, and will respond if developments occur."
In March, the LAPD confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that it was conducting an investigation into the allegations against Masterson. At the time, the LAPD said that three women came forward and said that they had been sexually assaulted by Masterson in the early 2000s, when he was a star on "That '70s Show."
Masterson has not been charged and has denied all four of the allegations against him (a fourth was subsequently reported by HuffPost).