US actor Jonathan Majors, renowned for his role as Kang in Marvel films, has been found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, British choreographer Grace Jabbari, in a New York trial. The verdict, delivered by a six-person jury after three days of deliberations, revealed Majors faced charges of assault and harassment, resulting from an altercation in March that left Jabbari with a fractured finger, bruising, and a cut behind her ear.
The incident unfolded in a car in New York, where Jabbari discovered a text on Majors’ phone from another woman expressing a desire to kiss him. As she tried to take the phone, Majors allegedly twisted her arm, hit her in the head, and exerted physical harm. The jury convicted Majors on two domestic violence charges but acquitted him on charges of aggravated harassment and assault with intent to cause harm.
Marvel promptly severed ties with Majors, dropping him from upcoming projects. The studio’s spokesperson confirmed they would not collaborate with Majors on future endeavours. The sentencing, scheduled for February, could result in up to a year in jail for the actor, who has also been issued a new protection order prohibiting contact with Jabbari.
The prosecution portrayed the assault as part of Majors’ pattern of exerting control over his girlfriend through physical and emotional abuse. Voice recordings and text messages presented in court depicted the actor’s disturbing behaviour. Despite Majors’ counterclaim that Jabbari was the aggressor, prosecutors declined to charge her due to insufficient evidence.
In the aftermath, Marvel delayed the release of “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” to 2026, where Majors was set to play the lead villain. Another film, “Magazine Dreams,” with potential Oscar aspirations, also faced a postponement following the allegations.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, Majors’ threats of self-harm and disturbing comments further underscored the gravity of the case. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg highlighted the prevalence of psychological and emotional abuse in intimate partner violence cases, emphasising the need for justice.
Jabbari’s lawyer expressed satisfaction with the verdict, emphasising its potential to inspire other abused individuals to come forward.
Meanwhile, Majors’ legal team expressed gratitude that the jury did not find intent to cause physical harm, maintaining their client’s faith in the legal process.
