Ashton Kutcher Credit James Dimmock/Netflix

Nearly a decade ago, Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson stepped out of that hazy circle of dope smoke as best bros in “That ’70s Show.” Now they’re back together as brothers, stepping into parental tensions and barnyard detritus, on “The Ranch,” a new Netflix comedy created by Don Reo and Jim Patterson, executive producers on “Two and a Half Men.”

Mr. Kutcher is Colt, a star high school quarterback turned hard-partying semipro who, returning after a long absence to his family’s financially strapped Colorado homestead, decides to trade the cowhide for the cows. Mr. Masterson is Rooster, the unsung older brother who replaced Colt 15 years earlier as the not-quite-golden son at home. Sam Elliott is their father, Beau, an anti-P.C. cowboy type who wields love like a weapon. And Debra Winger is their mother, Maggie, who shuttles between the Airstream behind her bar and the bed of her hardheaded spouse.

“Danny was one of my first friends out here, and we’ve stayed closely connected over the years,” said Mr. Kutcher, calling from Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife, Mila Kunis — another “’70s Show” alum — and their 18-month-old daughter, Wyatt Isabelle. “Even our kids are friends. So it’s a reunion for the public, but for us it’s just another day.” Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Q. Sorry about the bad connection, but I’m on a boat.

A. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around — like, I’m the one who’s on the boat while you’re toiling away in the office? And by “bad connection” do you mean that you’ve had three margaritas?

Tell us about Colt.

Colt’s a guy who had all the talent in the world and thought he had the cards lined up to be a success, but he didn’t have the discipline and the work ethic to get there. In public he brandishes the confidence of a small-town hero. But he’s had a 15-year failed football career and the regret that goes with it. Now he’s come home.

Sign Up for the Watching Newsletter

Why Danny and why a ranch?

Danny and I have wanted to work together again, but our schedules never lined up until I came off “Two and a Half Men.” So we decided to focus on a small town in conservative, blue-collar, Middle America, and on a family trying to keep their ranch alive. And we put this kind of Archie Bunker character at the center of it. Rather than make fun of the views of that audience, we decided to speak to them and their belief in God and country. We also felt it would be really topical.

Are things about “The Ranch” similar to your upbringing in Iowa?

I was raised in a town with a little more than 100 people, so I’m pretty familiar with ranching and farming. I also know that the heartland isn’t always represented correctly in the media, and nobody really makes content for them.

Why, after a huge, network Chuck Lorre show, did you go with Netflix?

We wanted to disrupt the sitcom. We wanted the characters to talk like real people, to use irreverent language, to have an edge. We wanted to shoot things outdoors and play country music — things that are unconventional for a sitcom. So we made the distinct choice to do this on Netflix, where we thought they’d let us make the show we wanted to make.

How did you get Sam Elliott on board?

We wanted a father type with gravitas because it allows you to say whatever you want, to get dramatic and still make it funny. You know the feeling that no matter how old your dad gets, he can always whip your ass? Sam is that guy.

Mr. Masterson says that at least one other “’70s Show” regular will appear. Mila?

You’ll have to wait and see.

And will those Uggs, just like Tom Brady’s, continue to have a starring role?

Yes, the Uggs make another appearance — or two. Comfort first!

Ashton Kutcher and Steve Wozniak at odds over Jobs biopic

A row has emerged between the actor and the Apple co-founder over film adaptations of the story of Steve Jobs

 

Just the job … Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad in Jobs Photograph: Glen Wilson/AP

Ashton Kutcher has found himself caught up in a war of words with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak over his portrayal of late technology icon Steve Jobs in a poorly-received biopic.

Joshua Michael Stern's Jobs follows the Apple guru from his student days at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, in the mid-1970s to the launch of the world-beating iPod in 2001. The film opened outside the top 5 at the US box office at the weekend with $6.7m (£4.2m) and currently maintains a disappointing 25% "rotten" rating on the review aggregator rottentomatoes.com.

Wozniak, who founded Apple with Jobs in 1976, took to the tech site Gizmodo on 16 August to post his own impromptu review: "I thought the acting throughout was good. I was attentive and entertained but not greatly enough to recommend the movie," he wrote.
"I suspect a lot of what was wrong with the film came from Ashton's own image of Jobs. Ashton made some disingenuous and wrong statements about me recently (including my supposedly having said that the movie was bad, which was probably Ashton believing pop press headlines) and that I didn't like the movie because I'm paid to consult on another one. These are examples of Ashton still being in character. Either film would have paid me to consult, but the Jobs one already had a script written. I can't take that creative leadership from someone else. And I was turned off by the Jobs script. But I still hoped for a great movie."

Kutcher, 35, has questioned Wozniak's dismissive attitude towards the film. "Steve Wozniak is being paid by another company to support their Steve Jobsfilm," he said recently. "It's personal for him, but it's also business. We have to keep that in mind. He was also extremely unavailable to us when producing this film. He's a brilliant man and I respect his work, but he wasn't available to us as a resource, so his account isn't going to be our account because we don't know exactly what it was. We did the best job we could. Nobody really knows what happened in the rooms."

Wozniak, 63, is working as a consultant on a rival, Aaron Sorkin-scripted biopic, which will follow Jobs into production. The Oscar-winning screenwriter's take adapts the bestselling official biography of the technology icon, Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography. Isaacson's book is based on more than 40 interviews with its subject, conducted over two years, as well as interviews with more than 100 family members, friends, adversaries, competitors and colleagues. Jobs died on 5 October 2011, of cancer.

Sorkin's hotly-anticipated film, as yet untitled, reputedly plays out over just three scenes and in real time. The writer of The Social Network said in November he planned to deliver a trio of snapshots from Jobs' life, each from just before a vital product launch, in order to form a vision of the technology guru seen through the prism of his major successes.

Ashton Kutcher Biography

Ashton Kutcher's first acting gig, playing Kelso on That '70s Show, led him to roles in films like Guess Who, A Lot Like Love, The Guardian, No Strings Attached and Jobs.

“I'm happy wherever I go, whatever I do. I'm happy in Iowa, I'm happy here in California.”
—Ashton Kutcher

Synopsis
Actor Ashton Kutcher was born Feb. 7, 1978, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A talent scout discovered him in college, which led to modeling, most notably for Calvin Klein. In 1998, Kutcher landed the role of Kelso on That '70s Show. He later produced MTV's hit reality television show Punk'd. In 2004, he starred inThe Butterfly Effect, also serving as an executive producer on the film. Kutcher went on to star in films like Guess Who, A Lot Like Love, The Guardian and No Strings Attached before landing one of his most anticipated roles to date: playing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in the 2013 biopic Jobs.

Early Life
Born Christopher Ashton Kutcher on February 7, 1978, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ashton Kutcher started out as a model, later becoming a popular actor and successful producer. He was born minutes ahead of his fraternal twin brother, Michael, to factory workers Larry and Diane Kutcher. At the age of 13, Kutcher was dealt two painful blows: His parents divorced and his twin brother had to undergo emergency heart transplant surgery after his heart was badly damaged by a virus. "If I could give him my heart so that he could live, I would have," Kutcher later told People magazine.

Kutcher, his brother, and their older sister, Tausha, stayed with their mother after the split. When their mother remarried, they moved to Homestead, a small farm community. In his new hometown, Kutcher continued to pursue his interest in acting, appearing in school productions. After his high school days drew to a close, Kutcher's rebellious side emerged. He was arrested for breaking into his school in his senior year and spent a lot of time partying.

After graduating in 1996, Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he studied biochemical engineering. He joined a fraternity and continued his partying ways for the first few months, before hitting the books. In addition to his studies, Kutcher held a number of odd jobs to pay for school, including sweeping up cereal dust at a General Mills factory.

Before being approached a talent scout, Kutcher knew nothing of the world of male modeling, but that would change soon after he entered and won the Fresh Faces of Iowa modeling contest in 1997. This took him to New York City, where he signed with a modeling agency. Some of his most famous gigs as a model were for designer Calvin Klein and the Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. During the Abercrombie & Fitch shoot, Kutcher met his future girlfriend, model and actress January Jones.

Big Break: 'That '70s Show'

In the spring of 1998, Ashton Kutcher landed his breakthrough role on the popular retro sitcom That '70s Show. The comedy followed the life of Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) and his teenage friends as they grew up in the small town of Point Place, Wisconsin. Appearing as the adorable but dense Michael Kelso, Kutcher won over fans his broad humor and good looks. Mila Kunis played his on-again, off-again on-screen girlfriend, Jackie, and Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama rounded out the rest of the cast as Steve Hyde, Donna Pinciotti and Fez, respectively. The young actors on the show developed a strong bond, and were often seen out together in Los Angeles.

In addition to his work on the series, Kutcher began landing film roles. His early film credits include the private school comedy Coming Soon (1999), the romantic comedy Down to You (2000) with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles, and the crime drama Reindeer Games (2000) with Ben Affleck. For his first leading role, Kutcher didn't stary far from his television image. He played a wacky stoner, Jesse Montgomery III, who, along with friend Chester Greenburg (Seann William Scott), tries to retrace the previous night's events in Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). While it was derided by critics, the comedy was a box-office success, and Kutcher, subsequently, developed a large fan base. That same year, the actor was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."

Kutcher's follow-up film, Texas Rangers (2001), however, failed to make much of an impression on audiences or critics. Bouncing back soon after, he appeared in two romantic comedies: My Boss's Daughter and Just Married(both released in 2003). After filming Just Married, Kutcher became involved with his co-star, the late Brittany Murphy, but the relationship lasted only a few months. Shortly thereafter, he began dating actress Demi Moore; the couple's 15-year age difference caused quite a stir.

Producing Television and Movies
Also in 2003, Ashton Kutcher launched his career as a producer. He served as a co-producer on the film My Boss's Daughter, and helped create the MTV cable network's hit reality television show Punk'd. Preying on unsuspecting stars, Punk'd played practical jokes on the likes of Justin Timberlake, Hilary Duff and Tyra Banks during its eight seasons on the air.

Two years later, Kutcher headed another reality TV show, Beauty and the Geek, which brought together smart, socially challenged men and beautiful, less intelligent women, who worked together toward the show's grand prize.

Tackling more dramatic fare, in 2004, Kutcher starred in The Butterfly Effect, also serving as an executive producer on the science-fiction film. The movie, which revolved around a young man who can travel back into his own past to change the course of events, did well at the box office, bringing in around $60 million.

In 2005, Kutcher said goodbye to That '70s Show to pursue other opportunities. Returning to the romantic-comedy genre that same year, the actor starred in Guess Who (2005) with Zoe Saldana and comedian Bernie Mac, and then in A Lot Like Love (2005) with Amanda Peet.

Recent Work
Trying his hand at action, Kutcher appeared in The Guardian (2006) with Kevin Costner, a film about the U.S. Coast Guard. Kuther played a rescue swimmer in the film; to prepare for the part, Kutcher underwent intensive physical training. "I used to be a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoker, so I had no endurance," he later told Cosmopolitan magazine. Also in 2006, Kutcher took on something less physically taxing: lending his voice to the animated filmOpen Season.

In 2008, Kutcher starred in What Happens in Vegas with Cameron Diaz and the drama Personal Effects with Michelle Pfeiffer. On the producing side, Kutcher worked on the ABC sitcom Miss Guided (2008), which was canceled after only one season. Also in 2008, he returned to modeling as part of an advertising campaign for Pepe Jeans London. In 2009, he made history by having the first Twitter account to attract 1 million followers.

Kutcher later returned to film acting, appearing in the romantic comediesKillers (2010) and No Strings Attached (2011). In 2011, he returned to the runway, modeling in Brazil for the Colicci fashion label.

In 2012, Kutcher landed one of his most anticipated roles to date: playing legendary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in the 2013 biopic Jobs. The film's other cast members include Lesley Ann Warren, James Woods, Matthew Modine, Dermot Mulroney and Josh Gad.

In addition to acting and producing, Kutcher has a range of business interests. He has invested in two Los Angeles restaurants, Geisha House and Dolce, and serves as creative director of Ooma, a telephone device company.

Personal Life
On September 24, 2005, Kutcher wed Demi Moore in a small ceremony at their Beverly Hills home. Moore's three daughters from her previous marriage to actor Bruce Willis served as her bridesmaids and walked her down the aisle. While Kutcher was dating Moore, he became very close with her children, so much so that they refer to him as "MOD," or "My Other Dad." Even more remarkable, Kutcher managed to develop a friendship with Moore's ex-husband, Willis, who was on hand for the nuptials.

Kutcher and Moore separated in the fall of 2011, but didn't officially part ways until nearly two years later, finally reaching a divorce settlement in 2013. While the two were working out the details of their divorce, in 2012, Kutcher began dating Mila Kunis, his longtime That '70s Show co-star. The couple's engagement was announced in February 2014. In March, it was reported that Kutcher, 36, and Kunis, 30, were expecting a baby. Kunis gave birth to their baby daughter, Wyatt Isabelle Kutcher, on September 30, 2014. In 2015, Kunis and Kutcher were married over the Fourth of July weekend at the Secret Garden at Parrish Ranch in Oak Glen, California, according to Peoplemagazine.

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Are Engaged: A Timeline of the That '70s Show Co-Stars' Romance

                                                                                                                                                   

FOX via Getty Images

How cute is this? Mila Kunis is marrying the first man she ever kissed!

In 1998, she locked lips with her That '70s Show costar Ashton Kutcher—on camera, no less! "I was like, 'Oh, he's so cute, it's the Calvin Klein model!'" Kunis later toldPeople. "Then I was like, 'I have to kiss him?' I was so nervous and uncomfortable. I had the biggest crush on him." When Kutcher found out, he couldn't believe it. "I'm the first guy she kissed? Oh my god, I had no idea!" he told the weekly magazine later that year. "I'm so glad I didn't know that or it would've been too much pressure."

The comedy aired on Fox from 1998 to 2006, during which time they dated other people.

Kunis began romancing Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin in 2002. Seven years later, after denying engagement rumors, the actress told BlackBook that she wasn't keen on the idea of marriage. "Not to say that I don't believe in it, but it's just not something that's important to me," Kunis explained.

The unlikely couple called it quits in late 2010 but kept the news of their breakup secret until early 2011. "The split was amicable, and they remain close friends," Kunis' rep said at the time.

NEWS: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher aren't the only co-stars who fell in love!

Even though they weren't dating at the time, Kunis spoke fondly of Kutcher. "People think Ashton has changed," she told Parade in October 2007. "He's still the same old goofball that he used to be."

Kutcher, meanwhile, dated a number of women during his time on the show. According to January Jones, however, the TV star was a terrible boyfriend. "He was not supportive of my acting," the Mad Men star told GQ in 2009. "He was like, 'I don't think you're going to be good at this.' So, f--k you!"

He went on to date Dark Angel star Ashley Scott for nine months in 2001. Two years later, he fell in love with his Just Married costar Brittany Murphy. After that romance fizzled, he met Demi Moore.

PHOTOS: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis pack on the PDA in Central Park

                                                                                           

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

In spite of their 16-year age difference, the A-listers became notorious for their PDA-packed outings and gushy tweets. In November 2011, Moore announced plans to divorce the Two and a Half Men star.

"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton," the Margin Call actress said in a statement. "As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life."

Thirteen months later, Kutcher filed for divorce in L.A. Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences. When Moore filed a response two months later, she too cited irreconcilable differences. Unlike Kutcher, however, she asked to receive spousal support and compensation for her attorney's fees.

During their drawn-out divorce proceedings, Kutcher began spending more time with Kunis—and by the spring of 2012, it was clear that their friendship had evolved into a romance. Still, he was hesitant to say anything about their courtship, telling Elle, "People will fill in the blanks however they want."

As tensions with Moore reached an all-time high, Kutcher—whose divorce was finalized in November 2013—became less inclined to discuss his personal life. "You know, I've learned the hard way how valuable privacy is," he said. "And I've learned that there are a lot of things in your life that really benefit from being private. And relationships are one of them. And I am going to do everything in my power to have this relationship be private."

Of course, the former co-stars didn't exactly hide their mutual affection for one another. During their PDA-packed trips around the globe, they hung out with Princess Beatrice and David Clark. After attending their siblings' respective weddings in December 2013 and February 2014, Kutcher decided to pop the question.

For Kunis, marrying Kutcher is a dream come true. "Listen, in five years I do hope to have a family, and, you know, who knows?" she told Interview in August 2012. "I've always been a big proponent of not working for the sake of working, because I don't want to work for the rest of my life—I want to live."

An Actor Who Knows Start-Ups

Ashton Kutcher, a former model, rose to fame in Hollywood by playing a handsome ditz in “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and on “That 70s Show.” But in certain circles, people know that he is no dummy when it comes to technology.

In recent years, Mr. Kutcher has become a smart early investor in some of the most talked-about Internet start-ups, including Foursquare, the mobile social network; Path, a photo-sharing application; and Flipboard, a news-reading app for the iPad.

He has also clearly mastered the utopian lingo of Silicon Valley: “I look for companies that solve problems in intelligent and friction-free ways and break boundaries,” he said in an interview this week.

It is too early to say how Mr. Kutcher’s approach will pay off, but one of his investments has clearly jumped in value. He was part of a group of investors that bought into the Internet calling service Skype in 2009 in a deal that valued it at $2.75 billion. Last month, Microsoft agreed to buy Skype for more than three times that amount.

Mr. Kutcher, 33, would not discuss the size of his investments, which he has recently been making through a partnership called A Grade. People in the venture capital world estimated that they were in modest amounts, perhaps $50,000 to $200,000 — on par with what other early-stage investors would be putting in.

His firm’s latest and largest investment, to be announced Thursday, is inAirbnb, a start-up company in San Francisco that matches budget-conscious travelers with local people who are willing to rent out their spare bedrooms.

Airbnb has more than 60,000 listings, from seaside apartments in Barcelona, Spain, to houseboats in the San Francisco Bay Area. It charges a fee for each reservation and says its users have booked more than a million nights through its service.

Many celebrities, including M. C. Hammer and Justin Timberlake, have flirted with tech businesses. Kim Kardashian, for one, is a founder of an e-commerce start-up called ShoeDazzle. But Mr. Kutcher is the most prominent entertainment figure in the high-tech venture capital game, and he puts more than his money into it.

He has been known to drop into General Assembly, a co-working space in Manhattan that is the home of one of his investments, the fashion siteFashism. He advised Path on ways to let users comment and give feedback on each others’ photos. And on Monday, UberMedia, another of his investments, released A Plus, a free program for desktop computers that revolves around everything Ashton, including his Twitter updates, photos and other material he endorses.

“He gives capital, yes, but he also offers creative collaboration,” said Dave Morin, who started Path and was an early employee of Facebook.

Mr. Kutcher’s first forays into the tech industry were flops: an Internet calling service called Ooma in 2007, and an animated Web comedy show aimed at young women, called the “Blah Girls,.” in 2008.

“We failed,” he conceded on stage in New York this week at TechCrunch Disrupt, a technology conference.

But Mr. Kutcher’s interest in the Internet grabbed the attention of several Silicon Valley heavyweights, including Marc Andreessen, the venture capitalist who was a founder of Netscape. He roped Mr. Kutcher into investing in Skype. Since then, Mr. Kutcher has built up a circle of fellow investors.

“I have a bunch of interesting and really smart people that I sit with and talk to quite frequently because of the investments I’ve made, and between their networks and mine, I get to see things really early,” he said.

David Lee, who co-founded SV Angel, an early-stage investment firm in Silicon Valley, said he once had doubts about Mr. Kutcher.

“When I first met him, I was deeply skeptical of him because he’s an actor and famous, and I thought he just wanted to dabble,” Mr. Lee said. “I’ve seen his movies, I’ve seen ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’ and was not sure what to expect.”

But Mr. Lee said that as his firm began to collaborate with Mr. Kutcher’s and invest in the same companies, he saw Mr. Kutcher in a different light. “I’ve come to realize he’s one of the most insightful investors I’ve worked with,” he said.

Adding to Mr. Kutcher’s appeal, many say, is his extensive reach online and off. Besides his TV and movie audience, he has a large following on Twitter and Facebook — 6.8 million and 9.7 million fans, respectively, which could help a start-up rise above the online chatter.

With Airbnb, the company had already built up a customer base and raised $7.2 million from Sequoia Capital and Greylock Partners. The only thing missing? Mainstream adoption.

“It felt like we are at a juncture where Airbnb is ready for the rest of the world,” said Brian Chesky, one of the founders of the service. “We realized Airbnb needs to leverage pop culture and social media.” Mr. Kutcher, he said, could help the company with both of those.

Mr. Kutcher was impressed by Airbnb’s approach, which focuses on reviews of both the lodging and the lodgers.

“It’s moving social trust into commerce,” he said. “Your home is a very private place, so building trust around turning that into a consumer offering is unlike any other site.”

Sophisticated' ID thieves swipe info on Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Ashton Kutcher and others

A website has posted what appear to be the social security numbers, addresses and even credit reports of celebrities, politicians and others who are in the public eye. NBC's Pete Williams reports.

“Sophisticated” online thieves have stolen information from first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, the FBI director and the Los Angeles police chief as well as several celebrities, including Beyonce, Ashton Kutcher, and Jay Z.

A website — which has an “.su” domain name, representing the old Soviet Union — posted what appears to be their credit reports and other information.

Some of the information, it turns out, is out of date . The website shows FBI director Robert Mueller living in San Francisco, for example. But other data appear to be accurate.

All of this kind of information can be bought online from commercially available websites, experts say, once someone's Social Security number and date of birth are known. 

Staff / Reuters

Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Joe Biden, and Ashton Kutcher are pictured in this photo combination. All were apparent victims of recent identity theft.

Among other victims are former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck. Other celebrities targeted include Mel Gibson, Kim Kardashian, and Paris Hilton.

The FBI and the Secret Service say they are investigating the website. So is the LAPD, because so many of the celebrities live in Los Angeles, as does the police chief.

The existence of the website was first revealed on Monday, and as of Tuesday morning was still in online. NBC News is not disclosing the website’s address.

There is no indication that any of the information was obtained by computer hacking. Instead, those on the site now join the millions of other Americans who are victims of identity theft. There's no indication so far that anyone has tried to use the information posted on the site to pose as any of those targeted.

Credit report agency Equifax said that reports of some of the individuals were accessed through AnnualCreditReports.com, a website it owns with Experian and TransUnion.

"Equifax can confirm that fraudulent and unauthorized access to four consumer credit reports has occurred through the AnnualCreditReport.com channel, a free public service that allows all consumers to get annual access to their credit report," the company said in a statement.

"Our initial investigation shows the perpetrators had the (personal information) of the individuals whose files were accessed and were therefore able to pass the required authentication measures in place. We have launched a full investigation into this matter and we are also working closely with law enforcement authorities on this matter."

TransUnion said its systems “were not hacked or compromised in any way” but blamed the compromise on “sophisticated perpetrators.”

None of the people targeted by the website have yet come forward to comment on the accuracy of the information exposed. Representatives of those targeted either declined to comment on the accuracy of the information that was posted, or they did not return messages seeking comment, according to the Associated Press.

Stealing the personal information of celebrities isn’t new. More than a decade ago a California man masquerading as Tiger Woods used the golfing great’s name and Social Security number to buy big-screen televisions, stereos and other goods. Anthony Lemar Taylor was sentenced to 200 years in prison.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher join Secretary-General to launch Trust Fund for victims of human trafficking

4 November 2010 - In a bid to help the victims of human trafficking, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today launched the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons with Hollywood stars and humanitarian activists Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Joining them were Joseph Deiss, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC, former trafficking victims, and New York Times journalist-author and Pulitzer Prize-winner Nicholas Kristof.

The Trust Fund is one of the most important elements of the new United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in July 2010. It will provide humanitarian, legal and financial aid to victims of human trafficking with the aim of increasing the number of victims who are rescued and supported, and broadening the extent of assistance they receive.

Ms. Moore and Mr. Kutcher have been strongly committed to the fight against human trafficking. They created "DNA", the Demi and Ashton Foundation, which aims to raise awareness about child sex slavery worldwide, change cultural stereotypes about the issue and rehabilitate victims. "Freedom is a basic human right and slavery is one of the greatest threats to that freedom," Mr. Kutcher said. "No one has the right to enslave another person," said Ms. Moore.

In a cruel irony, victims of human trafficking are very often treated as offenders rather than victims of a crime. Recognizing this, Mr. Ban says: "Many victims end up stranded, friendless, trapped in modern day slavery. They may not ask for help because they are isolated or cannot speak the local language. Or they may be seized by fear - fear that they will be treated as criminals even though they have been forced to engage in criminal acts".

Mr. Fedotov, whose Office will administer the Fund with the support of a Board of Trustees said, "We are honoured to have Demi and Ashton join us in launching the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons. We hope Demi and Ashton's extraordinary commitment to the plight of trafficking victims will move others to take similar action".

The United Nations has estimated that more than 2.4 million people are currently being exploited as victims of human trafficking. No country is immune. Human trafficking affects every country of the world, either as a country of origin, transit or destination. UNODC reports that victims from 127 countries undergo exploitation in at least 137 nations. Human trafficking takes many guises: forced or bonded labour; domestic servitude and forced marriage; organ removal; and the exploitation of children in begging, the sex trade and warfare.

"The Trust Fund will foster partnerships between Governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs and individuals so that they can work together to help victims of human trafficking, especially women and children", stressed the UNODC chief. "I am very proud that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will serve as manager of the Trust Fund. UNODC has been working against human trafficking for many years, focusing on prevention of trafficking, prosecution of traffickers, protection of victims, and building partnerships to stop this shameful crime and to help its victims."

During the event, the first pledges to the Trust Fund were made by the Governments of Egypt, Luxembourg and Qatar, as well as by Naguib Sawiris, Executive Chairman of Orascom Telecom. Mr. Fedotov expressed his gratitude to these donors for taking the lead in making pledges.

UNODC has drawn attention to the plight of trafficked victims through the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking ( UN.GIFT) and the Blue Heart Campaign. The fund-raising slogan for the Trust Fund will be "Have a Heart for Victims of Human Trafficking" making a clear reference to the Blue Heart, which is rapidly becoming an international symbol against human trafficking and of solidarity with its victims.

UNODC invites all Governments, foundations, the private sector and even individuals to generously pledge contributions to the Trust Fund.

For information on how to pledge, please contact Ms. Simone Monasebian, Chief of the UNODC Liaison Office in New York (+1 (212) 963-5631; monasebian@un.org), or visit the Trust Fund page.