In a provocative episode of his YouTube channel “Growing Up in Scientology,” Aaron Smith-Levin drew startling connections between convicted rapist Danny Masterson and the disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.1 The September 26, 2024 episode, which quickly grabbed the attention of his 244,000 subscribers, alleges that Masterson’s habit of drugging, raping, and filming women was influenced by Combs’.
As Combs faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy, and transportation for prostitution, Smith-Levin’s theory gained new traction. According to Smith-Levin, actor Ashton Kutcher brought Masterson into Combs’ sinister orbit. The YouTuber went as far as to claim that Masterson’s criminal behavior mirrored Combs’ depraved lifestyle:
“Ashton is the connection between Diddy and Danny Masterson. And it’s not farfetched to say that Diddy and his habit of throwing debauched parties, secretly recording people, drugging people, sexually assaulting people, and getting away with it—it’s not farfetched to say that Diddy’s lifestyle and habit of doing that rubbed off on Danny Masterson.”
The shocking theory draws from the suggestion that Masterson, who was sentenced to 30 years to life for the rape of two women, may have been inspired by Combs’ alleged pattern of misconduct.2 Smith-Levin painted a chilling picture of how Combs’ unchecked power in Hollywood could have served as a blueprint for Masterson’s predatory behavior. He told his audience:
“Danny Masterson Learned from the best. It does seem very likely that Diddy was actually an inspiration to Danny who showed that you can do this, how to do this, and that you can get away with it.”
Smith-Levin’s claims remain speculative as there is no irrefutable evidence connecting Combs directly to Masterson’s crimes. Nevertheless, the allegations underscore the prevalence of Hollywood’s rape culture as more connections between powerful figures and criminal behavior come to light.
References
- Smith-Levin, Aaron (2024, September 26). “Diddy, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson & Scientology.” Growing Up in Scientology. YouTube. ↩︎
- Morris, R., & Matza, M. (2023, September 8). Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes. BBC News. ↩︎
Photos by Deposit Photos.