Bijou Phillips Divorce From Danny Masterson Could Be a 'Strategic Legal' Move After Supporting Him During Rape Case

In the wake of Danny Masterson’s 30-year sentence for rape, his wife, Bijou Phillips shockingly filed for divorce. The unexpected split came after she was spotted supporting her husband through each day of the trial. However, legal experts think there is more to this story than the “irreconcilable differences” the divorce papers state.

Family law attorney Holly Davis of Kirker Davis LLP told the Insider that this was likely a “strategic legal” move to protect the family’s assets. It is very typical for people who are married to get a divorce when one of them is imprisoned,” she explained. “Danny and Bijou are going to divide their estate and once the divorce is finalized, certain bank accounts, real estate, and other assets are going to be Bijou’s separate property.”

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Phillips is asking for spousal support, even though Masterson is behind bars for the next three decades. And it might be because he has a civil lawsuit ahead of him. The three women who accused the former That ’70s Show star of rape also have a civil case against him and the Church of Scientology of “stalking and harassment.” That’s where a divorce can come in very handy. “Any future lawsuits against Danny won’t be able to look to joint assets for payment, because Bijou will no longer be married to Danny,” Davis said.

The civil lawsuit might also be why Masterson bought a farm in Santa Ynez, California after the allegations were lodged against him in 2017. If he transfers the property to Phillips’ name, there will be less in his estate to go after. She and their nine-year-old daughter, Fianna, have also made that home their primary residence instead of their Los Angeles house. The rush to protect assets and an unexpected divorce seems directly tied to the outcome of Masterson’s criminal case.

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