Renowned Hollywood actor Jonathan Majors has been found guilty in a high-profile trial involving the assault of his then-girlfriend, British choreographer Grace Jabbari.
The verdict, delivered by a six-person jury after three days of deliberations, disclosed Majors’ culpability in a March altercation in New York.
Jabbari provided harrowing testimony, detailing the assault that resulted in a fractured finger, bruising, a cut behind her ear, and enduring “excruciating” pain. The incident unfolded in a car in New York when Jabbari discovered a text message on Majors’ phone from another woman. Majors, 34, allegedly reacted violently when Jabbari attempted to retrieve the phone, engaging in physical assault.
The jury found Majors guilty on two of the four domestic violence charges: assault by recklessly causing physical injury and harassment. However, he was acquitted on charges of aggravated harassment and assault with intent to cause physical harm.
In response to the verdict, Marvel announced the severance of ties with Jonathan Majors, stating that he would not be part of future projects. Majors faces a potential jail term of up to a year and has been dropped from starring roles in forthcoming Marvel movies.
The prosecution painted the assault as part of Majors’ pattern of attempting to “exert control” through physical and emotional violence. Disturbing voice recordings and text messages were presented as evidence, revealing Majors’ threats of self-harm and attempts to manipulate Jabbari.
Majors did not testify, and his lawyer argued that Jabbari assaulted him in a jealous rage. In June, Majors countersued Jabbari, alleging she was the aggressor, but prosecutors declined to charge her due to a lack of evidence.
Sentencing is scheduled for February, accompanied by a new protection order preventing Majors from contacting Jabbari. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed concern over the prevalent psychological and emotional abuses in intimate partner violence cases.
Jabbari’s lawyer, Ross Kramer, highlighted that the verdict brings justice and serves as inspiration for abused women to come forward. Majors’ legal team, in a statement, expressed gratitude that the jury did not find he had intended to cause physical injuries, maintaining Majors’ faith in the legal process to clear his name.
The repercussions from Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles have rippled through his career, with Marvel delaying the release of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and postponing the release of Magazine Dreams, a potential Oscar contender.
