Ashton Kutcher has made a rare public remark about his ex-wife, Demi Moore, while responding to comparisons between their recent projects, The Beauty and The Substance.
The comments came ahead of the premiere of The Beauty, a horror series led by Ryan Murphy. Kutcher appeared in a recent interview alongside co-stars Anthony Ramos and Jeremy Pope, where Entertainment Tonight asked about fan reactions comparing the two projects. Both stories explore characters who ingest bodily treatments in pursuit of physical enhancement.
Pope addressed the comparisons first, noting the success of Moore’s film and defending Murphy’s creative track record. “I definitely understand it, given that that was something that was wildly successful and at the top of everyone’s brains,” Pope said, pointing to Murphy’s previous work on Nip/Tuck and American Horror Story, which he said similarly explore “two truths at the same time” in their storytelling.
Kutcher then joined the conversation and offered praise for Moore’s performance, which recently earned her widespread acclaim, including the first Oscar nomination of her career.
“One, Demi’s performance in The Substance, obviously she got extraordinary accolades. I’m so proud of her, she killed it,” Kutcher said.
Kutcher and Moore were married from 2005 to 2013, a relationship that drew intense media attention during the late 2000s.
The actor went on to share his perspective on the broader themes explored in The Beauty, particularly around society’s evolving views on cosmetic enhancement.
“The bigger context, though, is we’re in a society where cosmetic enhancement is becoming increasingly predominant and accepted. It’s a weird thing,” Kutcher said. “It used to be braces on your teeth were the only acceptable cosmetic enhancement, otherwise you’d be judged for it. I think, gradually, there’s a social acceptance of, hey, that makes that person feel happy, and that’s what matters more than any aesthetic outcome. There’s a gradual adjustment of societal norms around that.”
He concluded by explaining Murphy’s vision for the series, adding that “Ryan really wanted to explore that beauty is very different for each one of these characters,” while also cautioning that “sometimes these things come with unintended consequences.”
In addition to Kutcher, Ramos, and Pope, The Beauty stars Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall, with supporting roles played by Isabella Rossellini, Bella Hadid, and Meghan Trainor. Murphy previously previewed the series at New York Comic Con, teasing “exploding supermodels” and “a lot of body horror.”
The Beauty premieres January 21 on Hulu via Disney+.
Source: EW