Ashton Kutcher and his wife, Mila Kunis were in the news recently (2023) for writing a letter to the judge in the Danny Masterson (convicted) rape case.  They are publicly apologizing, framing, and doing all the social media mea culpas necessary to keep their livelihoods and images intact.  When I saw him in person, he was also in the news headlines at that time due to his separation from Demi Moore. 

I never watched “That 70’s Show” or “Two and a Half Men” and I know him primarily from seeing “The Butterfly Effect” (clever; great acting on his part) and “Just Married” (cute enough; saved by his fun chemistry with the wonderful Brittany Murphy).  And of course, he was/has been in the tabloids a lot with his high-profile wives. 

Which brings to me to the time I saw him in person.  It was during the period he was separated from Demi Moore and the press was hounding him and always trying to get pictures of him with other women.   

I was with a friend in the South of Market (SOMA) district of San Francisco looking for a restaurant.  Suggesting this nicer restaurant that sometimes-allowed walk-ins, I opened the door, and we walked up to the host stand – and there was Ashton and a pretty young woman.  Ashton and I locked eyes, which he quickly averted.  His body language was tense, he kept a distance from his female friend, and he was subtly scoping out the place (I’m assuming to see where there might be a private area/table).  I pulled my friend outside.  “Let’s go to my car really quick so I can get something for Ashton to autograph”.   

Always prepared with sharpies and index cards in the car, I quickly got what I needed and went back to the restaurant.  We had been gone for less than 2 minutes, but there was no sight of Ashton or the girl.  Not in the restaurant (even the private areas) or the streets nearby within visual distance.  But celebrities 100% know how to disappear when they’ve been spotted! 

The takeaway: He was tense, he was wary, and he was MUCH more handsome in person than the guy I’ve seen on screen. Tall, great jaw, fantastic skin.  Oh yeah, THAT’S why he started as a Calvin Klein model.  Duh. 

The autograph you see here was purchased in a collection of over 5,000 autographs in 2014 from a long-time, discerning collector (casts of Star Trek, Superman, Bond, Buffy, Charmed franchises) who was selling off his autograph collection.  So that he could switch to collecting U.S. gold coins.  I’m telling you … collecting is a serious addiction.  I’m blinking twice.