Ashton Kutcher Reveals the Real Reason Gucci Let Him Go at 19

Ashton Kutcher is opening up about a moment from his early career that didn’t go as planned. The 47-year-old actor revealed that he was fired from a Gucci modeling job when he was just 19 years old.

He shared the story while speaking on Entertainment Tonight and looking back on his early days as a model. Ashton explained that landing the Gucci job felt like a huge opportunity at the time.

He said he flew to Italy thinking the campaign could change his life and help launch his career. But things quickly went in a different direction once he arrived.

After trying on the outfit for the shoot, which he described as a pink Speedo, the mood shifted. Ashton said that Gucci’s creative director at the time, Tom Ford, decided he wasn’t the right fit.

He was told he was too fat and was let go from the campaign right away. Ashton shared that he weighed about 178 pounds at the time and admitted the comment surprised him.

Still, he said he didn’t take it personally. He explained that Ford had a specific thing he wanted to see and that it was simply a creative choice.

Ashton also revealed that the two later laughed about the situation. The setback didn’t slow him down for long.

Not long after the Gucci incident, Ashton landed his breakout role as Michael Kelso on That ’70s Show. The sitcom became a major hit and helped turn him into a household name.

Before acting took over his life, Ashton had been building a solid modeling career. After competing in an IMTA event in 1998, he signed with Next modeling agency in New York.

He appeared in Calvin Klein ads and worked in fashion capitals like Paris and Milan. Once he moved to Los Angeles, his acting career quickly picked up speed.

Along with That ’70s Show, he starred in popular films like Dude, Where’s My Car?, Just Married, Guess Who, and The Butterfly Effect. Even though some of those movies received mixed reviews, they performed well and kept his career moving forward.

Ashton also found success behind the scenes. He created and hosted MTV’s Punk’d and went on to produce several reality shows through his company, Katalyst Films.

Over the years, he balanced acting, producing, and business ventures, proving that one early rejection didn’t define his future. Looking back now, Ashton’s Gucci story is just another reminder that even major stars faced rejection early on.

And in his case, being told he was too fat didn’t stop him from building a long and successful career. Recently, Ashton has been back in the spotlight for more than just his past modeling anecdotes.

He is currently promoting his latest project, a dark thriller series for FX titled The Beauty, which is set to premiere on January 21. In the show, Ashton plays a biotech billionaire who engineers a drug that makes people effortlessly attractive, though it comes at a terrifying cost.

The series features an impressive ensemble cast, including Evan Peters, Anthony Ramos, and Rebecca Hall. It also marks the acting debut of singer Meghan Trainor and model Bella Hadid.

The project has already made waves, with its trailer reportedly breaking viewership records for the network. Outside of his professional life, Ashton continues to be a prominent figure in the tech world through his venture capital firm, A-Grade Investments.

He also recently celebrated his tenth wedding anniversary with wife Mila Kunis in July 2025. The couple made a rare and glamorous red carpet appearance together at the 2026 Golden Globes earlier this month.

While Ashton’s career has shifted from sitcoms to serious thrillers and high-stakes investing, he remains one of Hollywood’s most versatile figures. Fans are eager to see if his role in The Beauty will lead to more dark, dramatic turns in the future.

What are your thoughts on Ashton’s transition from comedy to the dark themes of his new series in the comments?