LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bijou Phillips has filed for divorce from actor Danny Masterson less than two weeks after he was sentenced on rape convictions.
The 47-year-old actor was sentenced to 30 years in jail on September 7, nearly three months after he was found guilty of raping victims Jen B and N Trout in his Hollywood-area home back in 2003.
Phillips, 43, stood by Masterson’s side throughout the trial but on Monday, September 18, she filed a petition for divorce in a California court.
Phillips and Masterson, both Scientologists, first met during a celebrity poker game in 2004. They later tied the knot in 2011 and resided in a lavish Los Angeles house where they raised their nine-year-old daughter Fianna.
Why did Bijou Phillips divorce Danny Masterson?
In the court document, Philips cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the divorce from Masterson.
Her petition requested full legal and physical custody of their minor daughter, with her husband receiving child visitation.
It also seeks to "terminate the court's ability to grant support" to Masterson and asks that their assets be divided up as separate property.
"Ms. Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time. Her priority remains with her daughter," her attorney Peter A Lauzon said in a statement.
"This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. ... Ms. Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter. She hopes that everyone will respect her family’s privacy in these difficult times,” the statement continued, according to NBC News.
The ‘Havoc’ actor has also petitioned to have her legal name restored to Bijou Phillips.
Is Bijou Phillips divorcing Danny Masterson to protect their estate?
After it came to light that Philips was divorcing Masterson, netizens started wondering if the move was intended to protect their community estate from the victims.
“Bijou Phillips files for divorce against Danny Masterson after his 30 years to life sentence. She stood by his side at trial. Is she leaving because he is guilty, or to divide their community estate before the victims get a judgment against him?” one user wrote.
Under California’s victim compensation program, the survivors of violent crimes, including, domestic abuse, child abuse, and sexual assault receive compensation through fines and penalties assessed against criminal offenders once they are convicted or sentenced.
“Filing before the victims get a judgment against him. IMO, why else look up how she treated her half-sister Mackenzie Phillips? It's to keep the money nothing else,” a second user said.
“I’d imagine it’s because of financial AND practical reasons. She may want to get another man before she pops her clogs from old age,” a third user suggested while the fourth one said, “I think it’s about protecting their assets before the civil suit”
“Definitely before victims start collecting. She stood by him the entire time. Seriously doubt she changed her mind in less than two weeks,” one more user asserted.
