Jonathan Majors, a prominent actor known for his roles in “Lovecraft Country“, and “The Harder They Fall,” found himself in the center of a legal storm on March 25, 2023, when he was arrested following an alleged domestic violence dispute. The incident has since captivated public attention, with conflicting narratives and a legal battle ensuing between Majors and his alleged victim, Grace Jabbari.
Here’s a detailed timeline of the events surrounding this high-profile case:
March 25, 2023: The Arrest
On March 25, 2023, the New York Police Department (NYPD) responded to a distress call regarding an alleged assault involving Jonathan Majors and a 30-year-old woman. The NYPD identified Majors as the aggressor in their official statement provided to Variety. According to the statement, the victim reported being assaulted, and officers took prompt action, placing the 33-year-old actor into custody without further incident. The victim sustained minor injuries to her head and neck during the altercation and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Majors, on the other hand, vehemently denied the allegations on the same day. His spokesperson issued a statement to CNN, stating, “He has done nothing wrong. We look forward to clearing his name and clearing this up.” Subsequently, Majors was released from police custody after several hours.
April 2023
In April 2023, Emmy-nominated actor Jonathan Majors faced major professional and personal setbacks. His talent manager, Entertainment 360, dropped him, and PR firm The Lede Company cut ties in late March due to an ongoing legal scandal.
Additionally, Majors and Valentino mutually agreed he would not attend the Met Gala in May, reflecting the impact of his legal issues on his career.
June 2023
In June 2023, Majors met with law enforcement on June 20, filing a domestic violence incident report at the Chinatown precinct. He claimed that a “drunk and hysterical” woman had caused him harm during their March encounter. Majors alleged the woman had assaulted him in previous unreported incidents and accused her of stealing his phone and making unauthorized credit card charges.
During the same court appearance, a judge set an August 3 trial date and ordered Majors to maintain distance from Grace Jabbari, the alleged victim.
August 2023
The trial initially scheduled for August was moved to September 6, as the prosecution requested more preparation time. Throughout this period, Majors attended court proceedings with his girlfriend, Meagan Good.
October 2023
In October, a New York judge denied a motion to dismiss the case against Majors, setting a new trial date for November 29. Before the ruling, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office submitted a 115-page response, accusing Majors’ legal team of leaking and misrepresenting court evidence.
The filing also revealed the District Attorney’s office had no plans to prosecute Jabbari for allegations in Majors’ counterclaim. An investigation extended to a September 2022 incident, with prosecutors seeking medical records.
In the same month, Jabbari faced arrest on assault and criminal mischief charges, though the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office chose not to prosecute, closing the matter.
December 2023
The legal drama reached a critical juncture in December 2023 when Majors‘ assault trial commenced, with Grace Jabbari taking the witness stand. During her testimony on December 5, Jabbari recounted her relationship with the actor, stating that they had met on the set of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” before beginning to date. She alleged that their relationship eventually turned abusive, with Majors reportedly throwing glass candles at her head, berating her for discussing a past partner, and ceasing communication for days after she attended a music festival.
Text messages presented as evidence by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office during the trial revealed Majors’ alleged threats of suicide and efforts to dissuade Jabbari from seeking medical attention for a head injury.
An audio clip emerged during the trial, in which Majors discussed the type of partner he needed, making references to historical couples like Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr. and Michelle Obama and Barack Obama.
In her closing statements, Majors’ lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, suggested that the case against her client had racial undertones, citing Majors’ fear as a Black man in America who had called 911, a fear that had become a reality. Assistant District Attorney Kelli Galaway countered in her closing statement that the case centered around “control, domination, manipulation, and abuse” on Majors’ part.
Ultimately, the jury found Majors guilty of assault in the third degree and harassment, with sentencing scheduled for February 6, 2024. Notably, the actor was acquitted of aggravated harassment in the second degree and an additional count of assault in the third degree.
In the wake of his conviction, Marvel Studios confirmed Majors’ removal from upcoming productions. He had portrayed Kang the Conqueror in “Loki“ and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” with the character set to lead the “Kang Dynasty” Avengers team-up in 2026.
