Ashton Kutcher ‘Hopes People Can Forgive and Forget’ His Controversial Past as He Eyes a Comeback

Ashton Kutcher is apparently in search of a fresh start.

The 47-year-old actor — who has long been connected to controversial Hollywood figures like convicted rapist Danny Masterson and disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs — has maintained a relatively low profile in recent months.

However, as the January 2026 release of his new FX series The Beauty approaches, Kutcher is “desperate to redeem himself,” a source told the Daily Mail in an article published Saturday, December 27.

“He’s pinning all his hopes on his new series to put him back in the spotlight,” the source said. “He hopes people can forgive and forget the shameful things he’s been involved in over the years.”

Before his That ’70s Show costar Masterson was sentenced in 2023 to an indefinite period of 30 years to life in prison, Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis wrote letters on the actor’s behalf that asked the judge for leniency. Kutcher and Kunis, 42, were met with swift backlash.

Kutcher has also come under fire for his close ties to Combs, 56, who was recently sentenced to 50 months (or more than four years) in prison after being found guilty on two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution.

In a resurfaced Hot Ones interview, Kutcher admitted there were “a lot” of stories from Diddy’s infamous parties that he could not tell.

“He’s embarrassed by his former transgressions,” the Daily Mail’s source said of Kutcher. “He knows the Masterson and Diddy episodes are still fresh in people’s minds. He’s so nervous that he’s literally asking his buddies if they think he’ll ever be accepted again. He’s desperate to salvage his image.”

A second source claimed to the Daily Mail that Kutcher “has been affected with work over the controversies he has been involved in,” so when The Beauty creator Ryan Murphy “came calling, Ashton had to do it.”

“He would have been stupid to not take the opportunity,” the source said. “Ryan Murphy isn’t afraid of controversy and to him Ashton was the best person for the role. It was a win win and we all will see in a few weeks if it pays off for everyone.”

The Beauty — in which Kutcher plays a pharma billionaire alongside a cast that includes Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope and Rebecca Hall — will premiere on FX, Hulu and Hulu On Disney+ on January 21.