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Danny Masterson, 47, was found guilty of raping two women on May 31, 2023, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. When the actor was hit with multiple rape charges, he has had the support of his wife, Bijou Phillips, 43, and she hadn’t wavered in her loyalty to the That 70s Show actor. However, Bijou filed for divorce from Danny on Sept. 18, 2023, ending the marriage for good and taking over the responsibility of raising their daughter.
Before the divorce news, Danny and Bijou, who were both Scientologists, showed a united front throughout both trials (the first one ended in a mistrial in late 2022). But a January 2024 report claimed that following Danny’s incarceration and their divorce, Bijou quietly stepped away from the controversial religion.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bijou and her marriage to Danny.
Danny Masterson and Bijou Phillips (Photo: Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP/Shutterstock)
Bijou Has Famous Parents
Bijou is the daughter of musician John Phillips and actress/singer/model Genevieve Waite. John was the lead vocalist of the Mamas & the Papas. He died in March 2001. Genevieve was from South Africa and played the title character in the 1968 film Joanna. She died in May 2019.
Bijou was named after the song “My Petite Bijou” by Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross. Her parents split up when she was young and ended up foster care since John and Genevieve were found to be unfit to care for her. John eventually won custody of Bijou when she was in third grade and she moved in with him in Long Island.
Bijou has one brother, Tamerlane Phillips. She has three half-siblings, Mackenzie Phillips, 62, Jeffrey Phillips, and Chynna Phillips, 54. Mackenzie and Jeffrey are John’s children from his first marriage to Susan Adams. Chynna is John’s daughter from his second marriage to Michelle Phillips. Chynna is a member of the Wilson Phillips pop group with Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson.
She’s a Musician and Actress
Bijou followed in her parents’ footsteps and pursued a career in Hollywood. She released her debut studio album I’d Rather Eat Glass in 1999. She’s appeared in films like Almost Famous, The Door in the Floor, Hostel: Part II, and Choke. Her most notable television gig was a recurring role in the Fox sitcom Raising Hope from 2010 to 2013. Bijou did modeling for Calvin Klein and other advertising campaigns before she pursued acting and singing full-time.
She’s Been Accused of Abuse
Bijou was accused of shaming and assaulting Mean Girls actor Daniel Franzese on the set of Bully in November 2017. Daniel claimed in a Facebook post that Bijou “body shamed” him and “ridiculed” the actor for being gay. He also alleged that Bijou “physically assaulted” him on set by twisting his nipple and kicking him in the back of the head. Bijou apologized for her actions in a statement to TMZ.
“I was a teenager and reckless in my behavior. I know Daniel to be a trustworthy and honest person, and to find out through social media that I was not the friend I thought I was to him made me so sad,” she said. “I am so mortified by this behavior and have contacted Daniel and apologized to him privately. I am not and never have been homophobic. I have nothing but love for the LGBTQ community and Daniel.” Daniel accepted Bijou’s apology on Twitter and said he forgives her “because I don’t know her private story either.”
Also in Nov. 2017, The Princess Diaries actress Heather Matarazzo told Daniel on a podcast that she was also allegedly physically attacked by Bijou before they began filming Hostel: Part II. Heather reportedly claimed that Bijou threw her against the wall and then “choked” her for almost 20 seconds, according to reports at the time. Heather referred to the alleged incident as one of the most “horrifying moments” in her life.
Bijou and Danny Started Dating in 2004.
Bijou and Danny met at a poker tournament in Las Vegas in 2004. While dating, they starred in two movies together in 2009, Made for Each Other and The Bridge to Nowhere. They also shared the screen on an episode of Raising Hope. Bijou and Danny got engaged in March 2011 after seven years of dating.
Bijou Phillips and Danny Masterson (Photo: Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock)
They Got Married and Have a Daughter
Bijou and Danny tied the knot on October 18, 2011 at a private castle in Ireland. They said “I do” in front of family and friends including Danny’s brother Chris Masterson who was the best man, according to People. Bijou reportedly wore a custom Zac Posen gown on her wedding day. Less than three years later, Bijou gave birth to the couple’s first child, daughter Fiona, on Feb. 14, 2014. They announced the news on Instagram at the time, with Danny sharing a photo of his baby girl sleeping on his stomach. “Hello friends. Beyond thrilled to announce the birth of our daughter Fianna Francis Masterson!” The Ranch star wrote in his caption. “Mom and baby are doing amazing. You can all refer to me as dj dadpants from now on.”
Bijou Stood by Danny Amidst Rape Allegations, But Then Filed for Divorce
Bijou had defended Danny ever since he was accused of raping three different women. He denied all the allegations, but was found guilty of raping two of the women in May 2023. “Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out,” Danny’s attorney Thomas Mesereau said in a statement to HollywoodLife in June 2020. At the time, Bijou deleted her IG account on June 17, 2020 following the D.A.’s charges against her husband. She then revived her account but had comments limited and only posted a now deleted photo of Danny in Nov. 2022 — just after the mistrial
Danny is a Scientologist, as are the three rape accusers, so the Church of Scientology played a role in both trials. The three women all accused Danny of rape in separate incidents that all allegedly occurred in the early 2000s.
During her husband’s September 2023 sentencing, Bijou was seen crying in the courtroom, according to The Messenger. The judge denied Danny’s request for a new trial, and his three victims all read impact statements before the jury.
On Sept. 19, it was reported that Bijou filed for divorce from Danny the day before. Bijou’s lawyer, Peter A. Lauzon, released the following statement to TMZ: “Ms. Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time. Her priority remains with her daughter,” the statement began. “This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. Mr. Masterson was always present for Ms. Phillips during her most difficult times of her life. Ms. Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter.”
The documents obtained by the outlet revealed that Bijou listed the date of their separation as “TBD” and cited the standard “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. She is reportedly asking her estranged husband to pay for spousal support and attorneys fees. Additionally, Bijou is requesting that her legal last name be restored to Phillips. She has also requested to obtain “legal and physical custody” of their daughter but will reportedly “allow visitation for Danny.”
She Reportedly Left the Church of Scientology
A January 2024 report claimed that following Danny’s legal case and his own reported expulsion from the Church of Scientology, Bijou stepped away from the religion. “Bijou left a few weeks after she found out that Danny had been declared an SP [suppressive person] for not living up to the standards of the church,” an insider with knowledge of Scientology church members reportedly told the Daily Mail.
“It’s never an easy decision to leave Scientology because you face being ripped apart from your family and friends who are still members,” the source said in part. “In Bijou’s case, she had nothing to lose and wasn’t about to cut ties with Danny, per Scientology’s disconnection rules. Bijou would never do that to her daughter, plus her sisters, her close friends, none of them are Scientologists.”
