The Masterson Brothers: From TV Fame to Scientology Scandal
In the early 2000s, brothers Christopher and Danny Masterson were prominent figures on television. Christopher, now 46, gained fame for his role as Francis in the hit series Malcolm in the Middle, while Danny, 50, became well-known for portraying Steven Hyde in That '70s Show. Despite their success, both brothers eventually retreated from the public eye, pursuing careers as DJs and focusing on raising their families.
Family Dynamics and Hollywood Aspirations
While Christopher and Danny stepped back, their half-siblings Alanna and Jordan began carving out their own paths in Hollywood. Alanna secured a role in The Walking Dead, and Jordan appeared in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. However, in 2020, the Masterson name was thrust back into the spotlight under grim circumstances. Danny was accused of raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003, leading to a high-profile trial.
In 2023, Danny was convicted on two counts of rape with force, violence, or fear of bodily injury and sentenced to 30 years in prison. As Christopher makes a career comeback with the Malcolm in the Middle reboot, the Daily Mail has uncovered how the family's religion, Scientology, played a significant role in Danny's trial.
Scientology's Influence on the Masterson Family
The Masterson siblings were all raised as Scientologists, a fact that became central to the legal proceedings. Danny's accusers were ex-Scientologists who also filed civil lawsuits against the Church of Scientology, alleging harassment and intimidation after reporting the crimes to police. Following his sentencing, Danny was expelled from the church and declared a 'suppressive person' (SP), a term used by Scientology to describe individuals who hinder the spiritual progress of others.
Insiders claim that despite the expulsion, the church maintains Danny's innocence. From childhood, Scientology was a mainstay in the Masterson family's life. Their mother, Carole, was a devoted member. After splitting from Danny and Christopher's father, Peter, in the early 1980s, she married fellow Scientologist Joe Reaiche in 1984. The couple joined the church's clergy, known as the Sea Org, moving to its Clearwater, Florida headquarters with their children.
Life Inside and Outside the Sea Org
Danny was nine and Christopher five when the family relocated to Florida, signing contracts pledging allegiance to the church for 'a billion years.' Within a year, Carole gave birth to Jordan. However, the family soon left the headquarters after Joe witnessed members being punished by the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF). Joe later described the Sea Org as akin to 'slave labor,' with 60-70 hour work weeks for minimal pay.
After departing in 1986, the family became lay members and moved to California, where the children began auditioning for acting roles. They later relocated to New York for Joe's work, and Alanna was born in 1988. Throughout this period, Carole and Joe spent tens of thousands of dollars on church courses, which strained their marriage and finances.
Family Rifts and Legal Battles
The marriage ended in divorce in 1995, with Joe becoming disillusioned with Scientology. He was later shunned by the church and deemed a suppressive person for questioning its teachings, losing contact with his children. During Danny's trial, Jordan and Alanna wrote letters to the judge requesting leniency, portraying Joe as a deadbeat father and Danny as a parental surrogate. Joe responded by accusing Scientology of brainwashing his children.
Christopher did not participate in these letters and has remained silent about his ties to Scientology or Danny's sentencing. The trial featured expert testimony from a former Scientology official, with the church condemning the inclusion of religion as a violation of the First Amendment. Accusers testified that church officials discouraged them from reporting the rapes to law enforcement.
Danny's Defense and Ongoing Appeals
In a 2015 interview, Danny described Scientology as a 'college of the mind' and expressed loyalty to the church. He has since filed appeals to overturn his conviction, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and inadequate defense. His new attorney claims that key witnesses were not called and that evidence of consensual encounters was overlooked.
The Masterson siblings have declined to comment on these developments, while the Church of Scientology denies any wrongdoing. As Christopher's career resurgence brings the family name back into the public eye, the complex interplay of fame, religion, and justice continues to unfold.
