Danny Masterson’s Rift With His Stepfather Explained

Per the Daily Mail, Danny Masterson was nine when his mom, Carol Masterson, and stepdad, Joe Reaiche, pledged their allegiance to Scientology’s Sea Org for a billion years. They moved the family to its Florida HQ in 1985 to fully immerse themselves in the organization. Reaiche and Carol welcomed Danny’s half-sister, Alanna Reaiche, and half-brother, Jordan Reaiche. By all accounts, they were one big happy family. But shortly after the family moved to Los Angeles in 1987 to concentrate on the kids’ Hollywood careers, it all started deteriorating.

According to Rolling Stone, Carol and Reaiche divorced in 1995. Still, he initially remained close to his ex-wife, Danny, his other step-kids, and his biological children. But in 2005, Reaiche, who had reached the highest echelons of Sea Org by age 23, was expelled from Scientology and deemed a “suppressive person.” By the time he could call his kids, they’d severed all and any contact with him. They changed their last name to Masterson and haven’t spoken to their father since. Danny has totally cut him out of his life, too.

Reaiche was left heartbroken but unable to remedy the situation in any way. “Don’t get me wrong. Sure, it’s a loss not having your children you raised, but now, in my mind, it’s like they died,” he told The Mail. “They’re dead mentally because I can’t speak to them. Not that I don’t love my kids, but what do you do?”