Netflix Writes Danny Masterson Off of ‘The Ranch’ After Sexual Assault Accusations

Netflix says the streaming company will write actor Danny Masterson out of its original series The Ranch after allegations from multiple women say he raped them in the early 2000s. A Netflix statement says Monday was Masterson’s last day on set, and the comedy series will continue without him.

The announcement came after the Huffington Post revealed that one of Masterson’s alleged victims confronted Netflix Andy Yeatman at a children’s soccer game in Los Angeles this weekend and asked why Netflix had not responded to the allegations against Masterson. Netflix’s director of global kids’ content, reportedly responded, “We don’t believe them.” Yeatmen later reportedly said he was not in a position to make any decisions about Masterson’s future on the show.

Four women have accused Masterson of raping them in the early 2000s. Masterson has been under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department for about a year, according to the Huffington Post. But the cast has stalled, allegedly due to Masterson’s Scientology affiliation. The Huffington Post reports that after one of Masterson’s accusers filed a police report in 2004 saying Masterson raped her while she was “passed out,” “the Church of Scientology intervened and submitted more than 50 affidavits from Scientologists who denied the woman’s account.”

Then in March, journalist Tony Ortega revealed that Masterson was being investigated by the LAPD “at least three alleged cases of rape or sodomy of women who were also Scientologists and who claim they were pressured by the Church of Scientology not to contact police or go public with their accusations.”

The Huffington Post also reports that evidence against Masterson was “overwhelming,” but the case was not moving forward due to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office.

Masterson is known for playing Steven Hyde on That 70’s Show. He has denied the allegations.