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Netflix fires exec who reportedly claimed not to believe Danny Masterson’s rape accusers

Netflix fires exec who reportedly claimed not to believe Danny Masterson’s rape accusers

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Andy Yeatman apparently claimed not to believe allegations against the actor

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Ashton Kutcher And Danny Masterson Host Fans In Nashville At Tequila Cowboy For A Launch Event For Netflix 'The Ranch: Part 3'
Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Netflix

On Monday, Netflix fired Andy Yeatman, the executive who reportedly discounted the women who accused actor Danny Masterson of rape in early December, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Mr. Yeatman is no longer employed at Netflix,” a Netflix spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Verge.

The firing comes about a week after a Huffington Post report detailed Yeatman’s interaction with one of Masterson’s accusers at a children’s soccer game in Los Angeles. Yeatman was reportedly approached by a woman who asked why Netflix hadn’t yet fired Masterson, given the multiple rape allegations against him. According to The Huffington Post, Yeatman responded, “We don’t believe them.” He later claimed that he couldn’t make any decisions regarding Masterson’s employment.

In a statement to The Huffington Post at the time, Netflix confirmed Yeatman’s remarks, saying, “Mr. Yeatman’s comments were careless, uninformed, and do not represent the views of the company.”

Last week, a few days after the Huffington Post report, Netflix announced that Masterson’s character would be written out of its comedy series The Ranch, on which Masterson is also an executive producer. Masterson will still appear in the second half of The Ranch’s second season, plus several season 3 episodes. Netflix hasn’t confirmed whether Masterson will lose his production role.

Masterson has been accused of rape by at least four women. The case is currently being investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, though it has reportedly stalled in part due to Masterson’s affiliation with Scientology. Masterson has denied the allegations.

Earlier this year, Netflix fired Kevin Spacey from House of Cards due to accusations of sexual harassment, and cut ties with Louis CK after he admitted to sexual misconduct.