Joe Yates
Warning: This article contains discussion of rape which some readers may find distressing
Danny Masterson’s estranged wife, Bijou Phillips, has taken a major step in cutting ties with the disgraced That ’70s Show star.
The 45-year-old model stood by her now-ex-husband during his court cases three years ago in relation to the sexual assault of three women in the early 2000s - in which he was convicted of the rape of two of the three alleged victims.
For years, Phillips - who tied the knot with Masterson in 2011 and welcomed a daughter three years later in 2014 - stood firmly by her husband’s side, and was was often photographed holding his hand outside court.
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At the time, the distraught mom even penned a letter to the judge ahead of sentencing, describing him as an 'amazing father' whose relationship with their daughter Fianna was 'inseparable'.
But as the legal dust settled, Phillips’ stance shifted dramatically.
Sources close to the actor told the Daily Mail that friends and family had urged her to distance herself from Masterson for her own sake - and for their daughter’s future.
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“They encouraged her to show Fianna that eventually people need to be held accountable for what they do, even if it’s someone they love,” one insider claimed.
Another source added that Phillips was also trying to protect her finances, saying: “Bijou also is doing it to protect her assets and protect her future. She doesn’t want to lose money and land and housing over a future civil lawsuit against Danny.”
And now, Phillips appears to have listened to her confidants by filing to remove his last name from their daughter’s identity.
The model recently filed court documents, seen by TMZ, to legally change her 11-year-old daughter’s name from Fianna Francis Masterson to Fianna Francis Phillips - officially dropping the surname of her jailed ex-husband.
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Phillips filed for divorce from Masterson in September 2023, shortly after he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the rapes of two women.
The former sitcom star, now 49, has continued to maintain his innocence from behind bars at the North Kern State Prison in Delano, California.
After his sentencing, reports suggested Phillips initially struggled to accept her husband’s guilt.
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"Danny is adamant he did nothing wrong and Bijou believes him," a source said at the time.
But within weeks of the verdict, she filed for divorce - officially bringing their 12-year marriage to an end.
Since then, Phillips has moved on with her life, as the Raising Hope star was spotted out with her new boyfriend, businessman Jamie Mazur, in June 2024.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org