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- Jonathan Majors was found guilty of assault and harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, in December 2023.
- He was promptly dropped from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- In April 2024, Majors was sentenced to attend a 52-week domestic violence program in lieu of jail.
Jonathan Majors’ once-promising acting career has been marred by controversies.
Majors is known for his Emmy-nominated role as Atticus Freeman in “Lovecraft Country,” Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and Damian Anderson in “Creed III.” But in recent years, the focus has instead been on his personal life and domestic assault case involving his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
Majors was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment in March 2023. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. In December of that year, he was found guilty of recklessly assaulting and injuring Jabbari and harassing her. He was acquitted of assault with intent to cause injury.
Majors got a no-jail sentence in April 2024 and is now rehabilitating his Hollywood image, starting with his latest film, “Magazine Dreams.”
Here’s a timeline of Majors’ case and controversial moments.
March 25, 2023: Majors is arrested in connection with a ‘domestic dispute’ in New York City
Majors’ legal woes began on the morning of March 25.
In a statement provided to Business Insider, the NYPD said police responded to a 911 call around 11:14 a.m. in a Manhattan apartment. A “preliminary investigation” found that the actor and a woman, later identified as Majors’ ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, were involved in a “domestic dispute.”
Majors was arrested on the scene and held on suspicion of strangulation, assault, and harassment after Jabbari told police that she was assaulted, the NYPD told Business Insider.
Police said the woman sustained “minor injuries to her head and neck” and was taken to a local hospital.
According to reports filed with the New York Criminal Court seen by BI, Majors was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault, and harassment. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Jabbari was granted a temporary order of protection and Majors was released on his own recognizance.
Majors’ criminal defense lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, told BI in a statement that Majors was “the victim of an altercation with a woman he knows.” She said she believed the charges would be “dropped imminently.”
March 26: Within days, Majors’ career begins feeling the fallout
The case quickly began affecting Majors’ career.
People magazine reported that the US Army pulled two recruitment campaign videos that starred Majors.
The public affairs chief for the Army Enterprise Marketing Office, Laura DeFrancisco, told the outlet that though Majors is considered innocent until proven guilty, “prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allegations is complete.”
On April 18, Deadline reported Majors had been dropped by his talent manager Entertainment 360, and his PR firm, The Lede Company.
That same day, Deadline also reported that Majors had been dropped from “The Man in My Basement” and an ad campaign for the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team and taken out of the running for an Otis Redding biopic he was interested in.
March 30: Majors’ team denies the assault and shares text messages purported to be from the victim
Later that week, Chaudhry told People in a statement that Majors denied assaulting Jabbari. She also shared text messages with multiple media outlets she purported were from Jabbari, however, the messages have not been independently verified.
Chaudry said that on the day of the assault, “the woman sent text messages to Mr. Majors admitting that she was the one who used physical force against him. She also disavowed any allegations that he had done anything to her and confirmed that Mr. Majors called 911 because of her mental condition.”
“I reiterated this was not an attack and they do not have my blessing on any charges being placed. I read the paper they gave me about strangulation and I said point blank this did not occur and should be removed immediately,” the messages read in part.
May 9: Majors’ lawyer calls the case a ‘witch hunt’ during the first hearing
During the first hearing on May 9, Business Insider’s Laura Italiano reported that Jabbari said Majors pulled her middle finger, “causing bruising, swelling, and substantial pain.” She also accused Majors of grabbing her “right arm, [placed] it behind my body, and use his hands to twist my right forearm and right middle finger, causing substantial pain to my right forearm and right middle finger.”
Prosecutors also alleged Majors hit the victim with his hand on her right ear and caused a cut, and that he pushed her into a car using both of his hands, causing her to fall backward.
Majors, through his lawyer Chaudhry, maintained his innocence.
“We have provided the District Attorney with irrefutable evidence that the woman is lying, including video proof showing nothing happened, especially not where she claimed,” Chaudry said in front of the court, Deadline reported.
She went on to call the case a “witch hunt.”
June 20: Majors’ lawyer says her client’s arrest is ‘racist’
Majors was joined at Manhattan Criminal Court by his girlfriend, actor Meagan Good.
During Majors’ second hearing, Chaudhry spoke to BI’s Italiano and allowed Italiano to review police footage from the night of the assault.
Chaudhry said the footage showed the officers questioning among themselves how Majors could afford to live in a luxe penthouse, as they didn’t realize he was a famous actor.
Chaudhry told BI that all six of the responding officers were white and said that influenced how the evening’s events went down.
“It is heartbreaking that in 2023, a Black man should still be afraid to dial 911, even to save a life,” she said.
“The sad truth of this story is that if you are Black man and there is a white woman who needs medical help, you should think twice about calling 911 because chances are, you will be blamed and arrested.”
“And everyone—despite proof of the Black man’s innocence—will assume he did it,” she said. “And no one — despite proof of the white woman’s crimes — will prosecute her.”
The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment from BI at the time.
June 27: Majors files a cross-complaint against ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari
On June 27, BI’s Italiano reported that Majors filed an NYPD domestic violence complaint against Jabbari a day after his second hearing.
Per a domestic incident report and affidavit obtained by BI, Majors said a “drunk and hysterical” Jabbari scratched, slapped, and grabbed at his face, causing pain and bleeding.
In the incident report, Majors also accused his ex-girlfriend of running up his credit card without his authorization, returning to her home in London with his iPhone, and “a Rolex vintage watch and other luxury items that cost $6,000 – $7,000.”
BI reported a day later that the NYPD had issued a probable cause “investigation card” for Jabbari, authorizing them to arrest Jabbari on suspicion of third-degree assault if she returned to the US.
June 29: Rolling Stone reports former coworkers of Majors alleged the actor became violent
On June 29, Rolling Stone released the results of a monthslong investigation where anonymous sources alleged Majors abused two women he dated, was violent during his time at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, and had outbursts on the set of his film “Magazine Dreams.”
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Majors’ attorney, Dustin A. Pusch, denied the allegations.
Majors’ team also sent six character witness statements in support of the actor to Rolling Stone from women he’d dated or known.
However, four of the women told the publication that they never gave permission to Majors’ attorneys to release those statements. One of the four women told Rolling Stone that the statement attributed to her was pre-written and inaccurate.
Rolling Stone said Haley Carter, who dated Majors from age 13 to 18, was the only one to consent to the statement going public.
“After 20 years of knowing him, I can tell you who Jonathan is. He did not do these things,” the statement said.
Majors’ attorneys defended the character witness statements to BI’s Natalie Musumeci.
“Rolling Stone has misrepresented the circumstances under which it was provided written statements from individuals who know Jonathan Majors,” the attorneys said in a statement. “The statements were provided to Rolling Stone off the record and not for publication expressly to protect the privacy of the individuals and to make sure they could decide for themselves whether and how to comment, and Rolling Stone was encouraged to reach out to the individuals directly for that purpose.”
The attorneys added: “The statements were not manufactured, and there was plainly no intention to misrepresent the opinions of these individuals, each of whom Mr. Majors deeply respects.”
October 2: A ‘Loki’ executive producer said the production was not asked to change the season after Majors’ assault case
The week of the “Loki” season 2 release, Variety published an interview with the show’s executive producer Kevin Wright.
During the interview, they asked the producer if Majors’ arrest resulted in any changes to the show.
Wright replied: “No. This is maybe — not maybe — this is the first Marvel series to never have any additional photography. The story that is on screen is the story we set out to make. We went out there with a very specific idea of what we wanted this to be, and we found a way to tell it in that production period. It’s very much what’s on screen on Disney+.”
When asked whether there were any discussions about making changes due to Majors’ assault case, Wright added: “No. And that mainly came from — I know as much as you do at the moment. It felt hasty to do anything without knowing how all of this plays out.”
October 25: Jabbari is arrested and released the following day
Jabbari turned herself in to the New York City Police and was charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief following Majors’ cross-complaint months earlier.
“It’s sad that she had to go through this because she is the victim in this case and she’s the survivor,” Jabbari’s lawyer, Ross Kramer, said outside the NYC police station.
Manhattan prosecutors dropped all charges the following day, saying the case against Jabbari “lacks prosecutorial merit.”
The same day, Majors’ motion to dismiss the case was rejected.
October 27: Majors’ movie ‘Magazine Dreams’ is removed from Disney’s 2023 release schedule
The Searchlight Pictures film, which Majors received praise for at 2023’s Sundance Film Festival, was quietly removed from an updated theatrical calendar sent to BI by Walt Disney Studios.
The movie was set for a December 8, 2023 release.
December 6: Jabbari testifies that Majors was worried his career would be ruined if the public learned of his past behavior
Majors’ domestic violence trial began on November 29 and testimony was given for two weeks.
Jabbari told the jury that Majors was angry she told his manager about past behavior, accusing the “Creed III” star of having a temper during their two-year relationship.
She also testified that Majors threatened suicide.
She said Majors told her, “because of the conversation that I had had that he was going to kill himself. That he was a monster.”
December 8: Texts between Majors and Jabbari urged her not to seek medical attention
Texts shown in court revealed that Majors encouraged Jabbari not to see a doctor for any injuries because it would risk an investigation.
“It’s just fake,” Majors texted Jabbari. “And you have, I fear, no perspective of what could happen if you go to the hospital. They will ask you questions and, as I don’t think you can actually protect us, it could lead to an investigation, even if you do lie and they suspect something.”
In response, Jabbari texted she would cover for Majors.
“I will tell the doctor that I bumped my head,” a text message read to the jury. “If I go I’m going to give it one more day. But I can’t sleep and I need some stronger painkillers. Why would I tell them what really happened when it’s clear I want to be with you.”
December 12: A recording of Majors’ 911 call after finding Jabbari unconscious in March is released
During the four-minute call, which can be heard exclusively on BI, Majors is heard saying he believed Jabbari attempted suicide after finding her on the floor of his Manhattan apartment.
Doctors found no such evidence.
Jabbari was taken to Bellevue Hospital to treat a cut behind her ear and a fractured finger that Majors was accused of causing.
December 18: Majors is found guilty of assault and harassment
A Manhattan jury found Majors guilty of recklessly assaulting and injuring his ex-girlfriend, Jabbari, and harassing her. He was acquitted of assault with intent to cause injury.
BI’s El Calabrese and Haven Oreccio-Egresitz reported that neither Majors nor current his girlfriend, Meagan Good, reacted to the verdict.
December 18: Marvel Studios drops Majors from the MCU
A Marvel company spokesperson confirmed to BI that Marvel is not moving forward with Majors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The next “Avengers” movie, “Avengers: Doomsday,” is set for release in 2026 and will instead pivot to the comic book villain Dr. Doom, played by returning MCU star Robert Downey Jr.
Despite being axed from the MCU, Majors later said he was optimistic about finding work in showbusiness again.
“Yeah, I do. I pray I do,” Majors told ABC News in January 2024 in his first interview since he was found guilty of assault and harassment. “But it’s God’s plan and God’s timing.”
April 8, 2024: Majors gets a no-jail sentence
Majors was joined at the sentencing hearing by Good, who sat behind him in the courtroom audience. BI reported that Good dabbed at her eyes with her fingers when Judge Michael Gaffey of New York City Criminal Court said he wouldn’t be sending Majors to jail.
Instead, Majors was sentenced to attend a 52-week in-person domestic violence program. The judge said he took into account the wishes of prosecutors and Majors’ lack of a criminal record in sentencing the star to attend the “batterers intervention” program.
If he fails to attend the program and continue therapy, Majors, a Los Angeles resident, faces up to a year in a New York jail.
The judge also ordered a permanent order of protection barring Majors from contact with Jabbari.
June 21: Majors references his legal controversies while accepting an award at the 2024 Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards
“I reckon folks want to know about this last year,” Majors said while accepting the perseverance award, People magazine reported. “As a Black man in the criminal justice system, I felt anger. I felt sadness, hurt, surprise.”
“We live in a world where men, Black men in particular, are propped up as either superheroes or super villains,” the actor added. “But I’ve come to realize, me personally, I ain’t none of that. I’m imperfect. I have shortcomings, I acknowledge them. I love my craft.”
Majors gave a shout-out to Good during his speech, and concluded by vowing to “be there for others and to help them win and if their trials come.”
November 17: Majors and Meagan Good announce their engagement
The couple confirmed the news to People magazine at the EBONY Power 100 Gala at NYA Studios West in Los Angeles, where Good was seen sporting an engagement ring.
“We’re feeling great,” Good said.
“It’s a season of joy,” Majors added.
Good also revealed to E! News that she and Majors met at the same event two years prior.
March 2025: Majors returns to the spotlight to promote his film ‘Magazine Dreams,’ but his comeback is halted by audio published by Rolling Stone
Majors plays an aspiring bodybuilder named Killian Maddox in “Magazine Dreams,” which is distributed through Briarcliff Entertainment and releases in theaters on March 21.
Ahead of the film’s release, The Hollywood Reporter published a feature on Majors in which the actor spoke about his trial and the aftermath. Majors said that his plan moving forward is to “have a struggle, learn, metabolize, grow.”
Three days later, on March 17, Rolling Stone published an unreleased audio recording of an alleged conversation between Majors and Jabbari. The publication reported that the conversation happened in September 2022, after a “days-long fight” between the then-couple.
“I’ve never aggressed a woman — I aggressed you,” a male voice, reportedly belonging to Majors, says in the audio.
“You strangled me and pushed me against the car,” a woman, reportedly Jabbari, replies.
“Yes, all those things are under ‘aggressed,’ yeah,” he responds. “That’s never happened to me.”
“Because I said something sarcastically, in your eyes?” she asks.
“Well clearly, it’s more than that,” the man says.
“Something inside of you,” she replies.
“Yeah, towards you,” he says, as the audio abruptly ends.
Reps for Majors and Jabbari didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
