Bijou Phillips has officially filed for divorce from her husband, Danny Masterson, following his sentencing to 30 years to life in prison, according to confirmed reports by Page Six. Court documents from California indicate that the actress known for her role in “Raising Hope” submitted the divorce petition on Monday.
The couple, who were married for nearly 12 years after tying the knot in October 2011, have a 9-year-old daughter named Fianna Francis together. This unexpected filing comes after previous sources had suggested that Phillips, 43, had no intentions of pursuing a divorce, despite Masterson’s legal troubles.
An insider told People last week, “She has had a very difficult time since the conviction. She loves Danny and has no plans to file for divorce. She will be by his side for it all.”
Throughout Masterson’s rape trial, Phillips remained devoted and loyal, often seen walking with him in and out of the courthouse. Even after his guilty verdict in May, which followed a retrial after a hung jury in November 2022, Phillips maintained her belief in Masterson’s innocence.
“Danny is adamant he did nothing wrong, and Bijou believes him,” a source shared with the Daily Mail on Sept. 8. “She is hanging on to the fact that she completely trusts he never did what he was charged for, she can’t accept that to be true, and she is looking to the appeal process for justice to be served.”
Phillips even wrote a letter to the judge prior to Masterson’s sentencing, advocating for a more lenient prison term. In her letter, she emphasized the importance of Masterson’s presence in her and their daughter’s lives.
Masterson was convicted of raping two of three women who accused him of sexual abuse. Testimony during his retrial revealed that he allegedly drugged the victims before committing sexual assault. An ex-girlfriend also claimed she had to physically stop him from raping her.
Masterson has consistently maintained his innocence, and his legal team has expressed their intent to file an appeal.
