Some contentious Hollywood news is bringing under-the-radar star Bijou Phillips‘ back into the spotlight.
Phillips hasn’t appeared on the big or small screen in more than a decade now, but her husband’s recent conviction is dragging the 43-year-old back into the mainstream. Danny Masterson, best known as Hyde from That ’70s Show, is officially a convicted rapist, and the resulting attention is putting a spotlight on every aspect of his life — including his wife. Masterson and Phillips have been married since 2011, and, while the rapes occurred long before the pair even met, Phillips is inextricably linked to her longtime husband as he heads to his next hearing in August.
Phillips is in no way at fault for Masterson’s actions, but his conviction is bringing her name — and her own past misdeeds — back into conversations. Phillips already has a negative reputation attached to her, thanks to Mean Girls actor Daniel Franzese’s courage in speaking out about her bullying and homophobia on the set of his very first film. Ironically, Phillips proved herself to be a perfect fit for 2001’s Bully, after she displayed abhorrent behavior on its set, aimed toward Franzese.
Franzese accused Phillips of homophobia, body shaming, and even physical assault on the set of the 2001 film, and the actress later apologized, but the reputation has followed her for years. She certainly didn’t help things by defending two accused rapists — her father and husband — after claims of sexual abuse arose. She even went so far as to mock one of Masterson’s accusers, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, on Instagram, cementing herself as a lifelong bully in the eyes of most people.
With her husband’s conviction fresh on people’s minds, many former fans are wondering what Phillips’ and Masterson’s financial situation is. They’re likely to see a major dip in income, given the results of the trial, but for now, the pair is still doing just fine.
Bijou Phillips’ net worth
Despite her lack of work in recent years, Phillips was a household name back in the early 2000s. She appeared in a slew of popular releases, including Almost Famous, the aforementioned Bully, and Havoc between 2000 and 2005, and continued to find work up until 2013 — coincidentally, just a few years after Franzese’s accusations came to light.
Those early appearances, paired with Masterson’s work on That ’70s Show and Men at Work, gave the Masterson/Phillips family a cozy financial cushion. Combined, they’re currently worth $8 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which — while low compared to some of their peers — could see them through their impending legal struggles with some to spare.