It Must Be The Show!? 'Two & A Half Men' Replacement Involved In A Publicized Feud

[Brian Damage]

A Twitter war has broken out between actor Ashton Kutcher--who founded an organization with his wife, Demi Moore, aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking and child sex slavery--and the Village Voice, according to Digital Spy.

The battle is over an article in the publication that challenged statistical claims by the Demi and Ashton Foundation.

The Village Voice wrote: "There are not 100,000 to 300,000 children in America turning to prostitution every year. The statistic was hatched without regard to science. It is a bogeyman."

“Two and a Half Men” star Kutcher fired back on his Twitter account: "Speaking of data, maybe you can help me... How much $ did your 'escorts' in you classifieds on backpage make last year? (sic) How many of your girls selling themselves in your classifieds are you doing age verification on? Find another way to justify that YOUR property facilitates the sale of HUMAN BEINGS. If you ever want 2 have a productive conversation about how 2 end human trafficking as oppose to belittling my efforts lmk."

The Village Voice responded, in part, with this: "Don't spout phony statistics which are then used to justify millions in spending for 'awareness'. Victims need beds and counseling. Why would police departments across the country have a bias to downplay their arrest data on underage prostitution?"

The Voice added: "Which sounds more plausible: A limited but persistent problem whose underlying causes are homelessness and drug use, or invisible sex slaves in Third World proportions somehow stashed around the country by networks of cyber-pimps?”

Among Kutcher’s other Twitter comments on the feud: "REAL MEN DON'T BUY GIRLS and REAL NEWS PUBLICATIONS DON'T SELL THEM... I'm just getting started!!!!!!!! BTW I only PLAYED stupid on TV."

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/

[ryan423]

I admire how Ashton uses his celebrity status for good. Props to him!