Jonathan Majors, the actor who once held the promise of being the next big villain in Marvel's cinematic universe, is now facing a different kind of battle - one that takes place in a courtroom rather than on the silver screen. Majors, who was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment charges in December 2023, now faces a lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, who alleges domestic abuse and defamation.
The lawsuit comes on the heels of Majors' conviction, which stemmed from an incident in March 2023. Jabbari accused Majors of attacking her in the backseat of a chauffeured car, alleging that he hit her head with his open hand, twisted her arm behind her back, and squeezed her middle finger until it fractured. Majors, however, claimed that Jabbari was the aggressor, asserting that he was merely trying to retrieve his phone and escape safely.
The jury convicted Majors of one assault charge and a harassment violation, but acquitted him on a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment. Majors' lawyers unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the conviction, with a Manhattan judge denying the motion last week.
Following the guilty verdict, Majors was dropped by Marvel Studios, where he had been cast as Kang the Conqueror, a role envisioned as the main villain in the entertainment empire’s movies and television shows for years to come. The actor, a Yale University graduate, had hoped his two-week criminal trial would vindicate him and restore his status in Hollywood. In a television interview shortly after his conviction, he said he deserves a second chance.
However, Majors' legal troubles are far from over. Jabbari's lawsuit includes claims of battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, and defamation. She alleges that Majors subjected her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship, which lasted from 2021 to 2023. Majors' lawyers have declined to respond to the claims, stating only that they’re preparing to file counterclaims against Jabbari.
Majors' fall from grace is a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Hollywood. The actor, who had his breakthrough role in 2019’s “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” and earned an Emmy nomination for the HBO horror series “Lovecraft Country,” now faces an uncertain future. As for Marvel, the studio is left with the question of whether to recast the role of Kang or pivot in a new direction.
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