‘Girls we’re all waiting for to turn 18’ Ashton Kutcher’s comment on Hilary Duff in resurfaced video sparks outrage

The resurfaced footage dates to an episode of Punk’d that aired on October 26, 2003

An old clip of Ashton Kutcher discussing Hilary Duff and the Olsen twins has resurfaced online, prompting renewed criticism of the actor over comments he made while hosting MTV’s Punk’d in 2003.

The footage shows Kutcher introducing Duff, who was a teenage Disney star at the time, before making a remark about her and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Kutcher was 25 when the episode aired, while Duff was 16 and the Olsen twins were 17.

"Hilary Duff is in Lizzie McGuire, she also has an album out. She’s going to be in a movie called Cheaper by the Dozen," Kutcher said in the introduction. He then referred to Duff and the Olsen twins as girls "we’re all waiting for to turn 18".

The clip originally appeared in the second season of Punk’d. The episode featuring Duff, Missy Elliott and Usher aired on October 26, 2003, according to episode listings.

The footage has circulated previously, including during a wave of scrutiny surrounding Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis in September 2023. At that time, the couple faced widespread criticism after character letters they wrote on behalf of their former That ’70s Show co star Danny Masterson became public before his sentencing.

Masterson was convicted of raping two women and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. Kutcher and Kunis later apologised for the letters, saying they were not intended to undermine the victims or the judicial process.

The resurfaced Punk’d footage became part of the wider online discussion during that controversy. Reports from The Independent, The Washington Post and other outlets documented the renewed attention around Kutcher’s remarks about Duff, with social media users criticising the language used about underage actresses.

The context of the original programme is also important. Punk’d was built around celebrity pranks and Kutcher frequently used provocative humour as part of the show’s presentation. The clip therefore documents what Kutcher said on camera, but it does not independently establish his personal intentions beyond the remark itself.

Duff was already a major young star when the episode aired. She had become widely recognised through Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire, while her music career was also developing. She subsequently appeared in films including Cheaper by the Dozen, which Kutcher referenced in his introduction.

The Olsen twins were similarly prominent teenage stars. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen had been performing since childhood and were among the most recognisable young celebrities of the period.

The renewed discussion has also prompted broader criticism of the way teenage actresses were discussed by sections of entertainment culture during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Commentators have argued that language which was sometimes presented as humour at the time is being reassessed by audiences who are less willing to accept the sexualisation of minors as entertainment.

There is no indication that Duff or either Olsen sister has accused Kutcher of inappropriate conduct arising from the remark. The current controversy centres on the documented footage and the language used in it.

Kutcher has not issued a new public statement addressing the resurfaced clip in 2026.