In a high-profile trial, renowned Hollywood actor Jonathan Majors has been found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend, British choreographer Grace Jabbari.
The verdict, delivered by a six-person jury after three days of deliberations, revealed Majors faced charges related to a March altercation in New York.
Jabbari testified in court, detailing the assault that left her with a fractured finger, bruising, a cut behind her ear, and enduring “excruciating” pain.
The incident occurred in a car in New York when she discovered a text message on Majors’ phone from another woman. Majors, 34, allegedly reacted violently when Jabbari attempted to retrieve the phone, grabbing her, twisting her arm, and hitting her in the head.
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.
Following the verdict, Marvel announced that Jonathan Majors would not be part of future projects, severing ties with the actor. He will be facing a potential jail term of up to a year, has also been dropped from starring roles in forthcoming Marvel movies.
The prosecution portrayed the assault as part of Majors’ pattern of attempting to “exert control” through physical and emotional violence.
Voice recordings and text messages between the couple were presented as evidence, revealing disturbing statements from Majors, including 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. The actor had countersued Jabbari in June, alleging she was the aggressor, but prosecutors declined to charge her due to a lack of evidence.
Sentencing is scheduled for February, with the judge issuing a new protection order preventing Majors from contacting Jabbari. The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, expressed concern over the prevalent psychological and emotional abuses in intimate partner violence cases.
Jabbari’s lawyer, Ross Kramer, stated that the verdict brings justice and serves as an 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, expressing Majors’ faith in the legal process to clear his name.
The fallout from Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles has impacted his career, with Marvel delaying the release of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and postponing the release of Magazine Dreams, a potential Oscar contender.
Majors, who met Jabbari on the set of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, now faces the consequences of both personal and professional ramifications as the legal proceedings conclude.
