What’s going on with Jonathan Majors? At the top of the year, between the debut of villain Kang the Conqueror in the MCU with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to his scene-stealing performance in Creed III, it was looking like 2023 was his year. However, within the past months, there have been reports of assault allegations leading to the actor looking at criminal charges that are quickly turning around Majors’ life in Hollywood.
The actor’s legal issues and allegations began in March and are set to continue ahead of an upcoming trial date set for September 6, following a previous court date in Augustwas pushed back. Check out the timeline:
The Allegations Against Jonathan Majors
On March 25, 2023 it was reported that Jonathan Majors had been charged and arrested with “several counts of assault in the third degree, three counts of attempted assault in the third degree, one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, and one count harassment in the second degree” by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Majors was accused of strangling a 30-year-old woman, allegedly his girlfriend, in a New York taxi after an argument between them got heated. She was taken to the hospital with “minor injuries to her head and neck,” per authorities.
After the initial report came out, Majors’ rep put out a statement that he’d “done nothing wrong” and his name would be cleared. Majors’ lawyer also said the actor was “completely innocent” and was “probably the victim.” His attorney has also claimed that there is video evidence, witness testimony from the taxi driver and others, along with text messages apparently from the victim to prove his innocence. However, on the other side of things two directors, A.B. Allen and Tim Nicolai spoke out about the actor being allegedly “vicious, cruel” and an “abuser.”
The U.S. Army Pauses Campaign Featuring Jonathan Majors
Shortly after the reports of this incident, the U.S. Army decided to pull an ad campaign that featured Jonathan Majors with the statement that the organization is “deeply concerned” about the allegations surrounding the Creed III actor. The “Be All You Can Be” recruitment campaign apparently cost the U.S. Army $117 million in total, making it a huge blow for them to stand behind pulling its plug.
Additionally, when Michael B. Jordan took to social media a couple of weeks ago to promote his film being available to stream; he didn’t include a single picture of Jonathan Majors, even though he’s his leading co-star. This goes to show huge collaborators are abandoning ties with the actor.
Majors Is Dropped By His PR, Managers And Was Uninvited To The Met Gala
Since the allegations, Jonathan Majors was also dropped by his PR firm, The Lede Company along with his talent manager Entertainment 360 additionally discarding the Marvel actor as well, per a Deadline report on Monday. The same report also detailed that Majors and fashion company Valentino also “mutually agreed” to not collaborate at the Met Gala, thereby uninviting him from the massive event.
More Women Come Forward With Abuse Allegations Against Majors
On April 19, Variety reported that multiple unnamed women had come forward with abuse allegations and are cooperating with Manhattan’s district attorney’s office regarding this. Majors’ lawyer has disputed this report, saying the “story is baseless and without foundation” along with showing confidence Jonathan Majors is innocent.
Jonathan Majors Is Cut From Another Ad Campaign And A Movie
Additionally, Majors was dropped from an ad campaign for the Texas Rangers major league baseball team and was removed from the cast of The Man in my Basement, also starring Willem Dafoe, per Deadline. An insider alleged that Hollywood has turned “cold” to Majors, as well.
While Majors’ acclaimed performance in Magazine Dreams was initially expected for December 2023 after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival early this year, its studio, Searchlight Pictures, has removed the title from its “Coming Soon” tab on its site. Disney has yet to comment on whether the allegations will affect plans for Majors’ Kang the Conqueror.
Security Footage Of Majors’ Accuser Night On Incident Rolls Around
After Majors’ legal team showed alleged text messages from after the incident that claim that Majors’ accuser went out clubbing after their altercation. Then, a security video went viral of the woman out and about seemingly uninjured. The clip could aid Majors in his case.
Majors’ Alleged Victim Is Granted A Full Order Of Protection
Then in late April, Manhattan’s District Attorney’s office granted a full order of protection for the alleged victim of Jonathan Majors, who’s identity is being protected. The temporary order means that Majors has to keep his distance from her. Majors’ lawyer commented on the order by stating that her client “wants nothing to do with the woman who assaulted him.”
Majors’ Team Claims The Actor Was ‘Taunted’ By Police After Incident
At the top of May, Majors’ team then claimed that after the incident at the center of this whole thing, the Creed III actor showed injuries to a white police officer and he got in his face before saying that if he were to slap him “the officer wouldn’t break a finger.” The team also claimed that “none of the white officers present investigated the assault of Mr. Majors.”
Majors Appears In Court, And Trial Date Is Set
After Jonathan Majors received an initial May court date, the actor appeared on a TV screen, and per the Los Angeles Times, did not speak other than responding to the judge. He was then given another court date on June 13. Then, in late June Majors appeared in court for the first time in the flesh where he was given an official court date on August 3. Judge Rachel S. Pauley declared that he must appear in court for the trial and if he doesn’t “a warrant can be issued for your arrest within 48 hours.”
Further Allegations Point To Abuse On Movie Sets
On June 29, Rolling Stone published a length exposé detailing more Jonathan Majors claims that suggested “extreme abuse” from the actor on the set of a number of his projects over the years have been going on for nearly a decade. One source accused the actor of being “physically intimidating” toward a crew member on the set of 2022’s Devotion, while another alleged Majors was “was completely disrespectful and kind of violent toward everybody” on the set of the yet-to-be-released bodybuilder drama, Magazine Dreams. One of his lawyers, Dustin Pusch responded to the article by saying that Majors “vehemently denies Rolling Stone’s false allegations” before clarifying that he “employs an immersive Method acting style” that “can be misconstrued as rudeness at times,” but continued by saying “those who know Mr. Majors and work in the industry have attested to his dedication to his craft as well as his kindness”.
Loki Season 2 Trailer Briefly Features Jonathan Majors
A couple days later, Marvel Studios finally unveiled the first trailer for Season 2 of Loki, which was previously teased in the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania end credits scene to feature the next major appearance of Majors’ big villain, Kang the Conqueror. The trailer for the exciting next Marvel series did point to Majors still being a focus of Loki, with a moment that calls back to the end credits scene along with a brief instance of Kang’s face in the background. Depending on where the cast goes, Marvel could have a problem on its hands regarding Jonathan Majors, but for now we know the season is expected to be released on October 6.
Majors’ Case Is Delayed… Again
Following the judge’s ultimatum, Jonathan Majors did in fact show up on August 3 for his trial, however when he appeared in person at the New York Criminal Court, per The Hollywood Reporter, the prosecution shared that it was not ready for trial yet because the attorneys were still gathering additional information for it. Majors did not speak in court, but his reported girlfriend, Meagan Good accompanied him to the trial date. Following the new court date being set, Majors’ lawyer Priya Chaudhry reacted by touching on his career and “reputation” being “torn apart” before claiming Majors suffered “ alcohol-fueled abuse” at the hands of his ex, per the incident in question.
What happens could have an affect on upcoming Marvel movies considering he’s set to play the main villain in the MCU. Will Majors be recast or will his name be cleared? We’ll keep you updated.