LOS ANGELES — Ashton Kutcher gave a shameless plug for an array of tech startup companies he invests in during his role on “Two and a Half Men,” E! News reported Wednesday.
The 33-year-old actor’s stunt was noted as headlines were being dominated by reports of an impending split from his wife of nearly six years, actress Demi Moore, 48.
Kutcher’s character on the CBS show, internet entrepreneur Walden Schmidt, worked on a laptop that featured stickers promoting Foursquare, Flipboard, Hipmunk, GroupMe and Chegg on Monday’s episode of the hit show.
The star is an angel investor in these companies and, though the move was reportedly sanctioned by executive producer Chuck Lorre, it appears CBS did not receive compensation for the product placement.
“This was not part of any advertising transaction with CBS,” a rep from the network said. “Our policy is to disclose such financial interests in a credit at the end of the broadcast.”
Word is that CBS will blur out the stickers in future episodes, according to sources.
Kutcher’s latest ploy during his sophomore appearance on the hit show comes amid salacious rumors of his extramarital exploits and reports of his marital problems.
Neither Kutcher nor Moore commented on the situation but sources said the couple are gearing up for a split that could cost up to $290 million, according to Star magazine.
The two have reportedly been living separate lives, Kutcher in Los Angeles and Moore in New York, and have just been “putting on a show until they officially split,” a source told the gossip tabloid.