Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Co. have dropped actor Jonathan Majors from all future projects following his conviction for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Majors, who played the major antagonist Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel films, was found guilty of two counts of assault and harassment on Monday, December 19, 2023.
Overview of Jonathan Majorsâs Domestic-Violence Trial
Majors was arrested in late March 2023 over a confrontation involving 30-year-old Grace Jabbari during a car ride in Manhattan. Jabbari, who was Majorsâs girlfriend at the time and a movement coach on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, claimed that he grabbed her arm behind her back and hit her in the head to get her phone, which had a text message from another woman on it. She said she suffered a fractured finger, bruising, a cut behind her ear, and âexcruciatingâ pain.
Majors denied the allegations and said he acted in self-defense after Jabbari tried to stab him with a pair of scissors. He also said he called 911 out of concern that she had attempted suicide. His lawyer Priya Chaudhry maintained that prosecutors were trying to convict an innocent man based on Jabbariâs false assertions. She noted that Jabbari went to a nightclub after the incident and was seen in video footage using her supposedly injured finger.
The trial began on November 29, 2023, and lasted for four days. The prosecution presented evidence such as text messages, photos, medical reports, and witness testimonies to support their case against Majors. They argued that he showed âa pattern of controlling behaviorâ towards Jabbari and that he used physical violence to intimidate her. They also pointed out that he lied about his whereabouts on the night of the incident and that he had no alibi.
The defense challenged the credibility of Jabbariâs witnesses and suggested that she had an affair with another man who sent her the text message. They also questioned why she did not report Majors to the police sooner or seek medical attention for her injuries. They claimed that she was motivated by money and fame to ruin his reputation.
On December 19, 2023, after hearing both sidesâ arguments and examining the evidence, Judge John Smith delivered his verdict. He found Majors guilty on two counts of assault in the third degree (Class A misdemeanor) and acquitted him of three counts of aggravated harassment in the second degree (Class B misdemeanor). He also dismissed one count of attempted assault in the third degree (Class A misdemeanor) as insufficient evidence.
Judge Smith said that while he believed Jabbariâs version of events more than Majorsâs, he also considered other factors such as Majorsâs lack of criminal history, his remorseful attitude, and his cooperation with authorities. He said that while domestic violence is a serious issue that should not be tolerated or ignored, it should also be treated with caution before imposing harsh penalties.
He sentenced Majors to six months in jail, three years of probation and mandatory counseling sessions. He also ordered him to pay $10,000 in restitution to Jabbari for her medical expenses.
The Impact on Majorsâ Career
As a rising star in Hollywood, Majors’ conviction has done terrible things to his business. After his conviction, Marvel Studios fired him from all future projects, such as Ant-Man 4, The Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Thor: Love And Thunder, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 5, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Fantastic Four, Blade, Deadpool 3, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Fantastic Four, Deadpool 4, X-Men: Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Deadpool 5, X-Men: First Class Sequel, and Fanta
He was also dropped by his public relations company, which issued a statement saying that they were âdeeply disappointedâ by his actions and that they âno longer representâ him or support him in any way.
His co-stars from Loki Season 2 have expressed their shock and sadness over his situation. Tom Hiddleston said that he was âheartbrokenâ by what happened to him and that he hoped he would get better soon. Sophia Di Martino said that she was âdevastatedâ by his conviction and that she loved him very much. Owen Wilson said that he was âshockedâ by his behavior and that he wished him well.
