Remember when Ashton Kutcher was everywhere? From playing the lovable goofball Michael Kelso on “That ’70s Show” to starring in hit rom-coms like “No Strings Attached,” it seemed like his star would never fade. But these days, you barely see him on the big screen. What happened to the guy who once ruled Hollywood with his boyish charm and million-dollar smile? The truth is, Kutcher’s Hollywood career has taken a nosedive, and the reasons behind his fall from grace are more serious than you might think.
His friendship with Danny Masterson backfired badly
In 2023, Kutcher made a choice that shocked fans and industry insiders alike. When his former “That ’70s Show” co-star Danny Masterson faced serious rape charges, Kutcher stood by him, writing a glowing reference letter to the court. This happened despite overwhelming evidence against Masterson, who was eventually convicted. The backlash was swift and severe. People couldn’t understand how someone who claimed to fight against sexual exploitation through his charity work could defend a convicted rapist.
When Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis finally apologized in a video, many found it hollow and insincere. The damage was already done. The controversy forced him to resign from Thorn, the anti-child exploitation organization he co-founded. For Hollywood studios already hesitant to cast him, this controversy made Kutcher too risky to touch. His association with Masterson has become a permanent stain on his reputation, one that seems impossible to wash away no matter how much time passes.
His past comments about young stars resurfaced
As if the Masterson situation wasn’t bad enough, the internet never forgets. Old video clips of Kutcher making uncomfortable comments about underage female celebrities began circulating online. In these resurfaced clips, he made remarks about stars like Hilary Duff and the Olsen twins that would never be acceptable today. In one particularly cringeworthy moment from his “Punk’d” days, he commented on how he was “waiting” for certain young actresses to turn 18.
These comments hit differently in today’s world, where we’re more aware of how such remarks contribute to the sexualization of young women. For someone who later positioned himself as a champion against child exploitation, these old clips seemed deeply hypocritical. Hollywood has become increasingly cautious about who they associate with, especially in the post-#MeToo era. Studios and producers don’t want to risk the backlash that would come from casting someone with this kind of baggage, no matter how talented they might be.
His rom-com comeback was a total flop
After stepping back from acting to focus on his tech investments and family life, Kutcher attempted a comeback in 2023 with the Netflix romantic comedy “Your Place or Mine,” starring alongside Reese Witherspoon. It seemed like a smart move – returning to the genre that made him famous with a beloved co-star. But the film bombed hard. Critics panned it, and viewers weren’t impressed either. The chemistry between Kutcher and Witherspoon was awkward at best, and many noted that Kutcher seemed to be phoning in his performance.
This failure was particularly damaging because it proved that Kutcher couldn’t even succeed in his wheelhouse anymore. Netflix had likely hoped his star power would drive viewership, but the poor reception showed that audiences had moved on. When a comeback vehicle crashes this badly, it makes studios think twice about investing in similar projects. The movie’s failure confirmed what many suspected – that Kutcher’s appeal as a leading man had faded, and audiences were no longer rushing to see him on screen.
His health issues put his career on pause
While career missteps played a major role in Kutcher’s Hollywood decline, health challenges also forced him to step back from acting. In 2019, he was diagnosed with vasculitis, a rare and serious autoimmune disorder that affected his vision, hearing, balance, and ability to walk. The condition left him bedridden for a month, and it took nearly a year for him to fully recover. During this time, he couldn’t work, and his absence from the screen allowed other actors to fill the roles he might have played.
Kutcher himself admitted that he thought his acting career might be over during this health crisis. The physical demands of filmmaking are intense, and his condition made it impossible to maintain the schedule required for major projects. While he eventually recovered, the extended break disrupted his career momentum at a critical time. In Hollywood, being out of sight often means being out of mind, and Kutcher’s forced hiatus came at a moment when he was already struggling to stay relevant in a changing industry.
His connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs raised eyebrows
Another shadow looming over Kutcher’s career is his past connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs, who’s now facing serious legal troubles. Comments Kutcher made about attending Combs’ infamous parties have resurfaced, raising questions about what he might have witnessed. While there’s no evidence that Kutcher was involved in any wrongdoing, in Hollywood’s current climate, even loose associations with controversial figures can damage a career. The entertainment industry is extremely image-conscious, and studios are wary of stars who might bring negative attention.
This situation is particularly problematic because it came on the heels of the Masterson controversy. Together, these associations create a pattern that makes studios nervous. Hollywood executives are risk-averse by nature, and having an actor who brings this kind of baggage to a project is seen as a liability. While Kutcher hasn’t been directly implicated in any wrongdoing related to Combs, the connection has further complicated his already troubled public image and made his return to Hollywood’s good graces even more difficult.
He shifted focus to tech investing instead of acting
Unlike many actors who struggle when their careers cool off, Kutcher had a backup plan – and a lucrative one at that. Over the years, he’s become one of the most successful celebrity investors in Silicon Valley, putting money into companies like Airbnb, Uber, and Spotify before they became household names. Through his venture capital firms, he’s turned his fame and wealth into even more wealth. This success in tech has given him the freedom to be selective about acting roles, but it’s also signaled to Hollywood that he’s not fully committed to his entertainment career anymore.
When an actor clearly has other priorities, it affects how casting directors and producers see them. They want stars who are hungry for roles and willing to put in the work to promote their projects. Kutcher’s focus on tech investing has sent the message that acting is now his side gig. His recent launch of a $240 million AI investment fund shows where his true interests lie. While diversifying is smart, in Hollywood’s eyes, it seems Kutcher has already moved on from the industry that made him famous, making studios less likely to invest in him as a leading man.
His reputation for bad behavior caught up with him
Hollywood can forgive many things, but being consistently unpleasant to work with isn’t one of them. Over the years, stories about Kutcher’s behavior have piled up. Sharon Osbourne publicly called him out as one of the rudest celebrities she’s ever met. Reports of his poor hygiene habits made headlines. These might seem like minor issues, but in an industry built on relationships and reputations, they matter. When producers are deciding who to cast, they consider not just talent but also who they want to spend months working with.
The entertainment world is smaller than it seems, and word gets around quickly about who’s difficult on set. With so many talented actors to choose from, why would a director pick someone with a reputation for being hard to work with? Kutcher’s early success may have allowed him to get away with certain behaviors, but as his star power faded, the industry became less willing to tolerate any issues. In a competitive business where many actors are equally talented, being known as a pleasant, professional collaborator can make all the difference in getting those crucial roles.
His AI investments alienated him from the industry
In a final blow to his Hollywood standing, Kutcher’s enthusiasm for artificial intelligence has put him at odds with many in the entertainment industry. He’s become a vocal advocate for AI technology in filmmaking, even suggesting that AI will soon be able to create entire movies with minimal human involvement. These comments came at a particularly sensitive time, as Hollywood writers and actors were striking partly over concerns about AI replacing their jobs. By positioning himself as an AI cheerleader, Kutcher effectively sided against the very people who would cast him in future projects.
His $240 million AI investment fund demonstrates that he’s putting his money where his mouth is. While investing in new technology is smart from a business perspective, it has further distanced him from the creative community. Directors, producers, and fellow actors see his embrace of AI as a betrayal of the craft they’ve dedicated their lives to. In an industry already struggling with disruption, Kutcher’s enthusiasm for technology that could potentially eliminate jobs has made him something of an outcast. It’s hard to get roles when the people making casting decisions see you as part of the problem.
From supporting a convicted rapist to making inappropriate comments about young stars, from flopping in his comeback attempt to embracing technologies that threaten Hollywood jobs, Ashton Kutcher has managed to alienate just about everyone in the industry. While he’s found success in tech investing, his acting career appears to be over. Some falls from grace happen suddenly, but Kutcher’s was death by a thousand cuts – a series of bad decisions and unfortunate circumstances that gradually pushed him out of the spotlight. For now at least, it seems Hollywood has closed the door on the once-promising star.
