Actor and musician Jared Leto has denied accusations of criminal sexual conduct brought forward by four women in a BBC documentary, with the alleged offenses occurring when the women were teenagers. The incidents outlined in the report are said to have taken place between 2002 and 2016, when the actor was in his 30s and 40s. He is currently 54. Among the accusers, one woman alleges that the Oscar winner assaulted her in a motel bathroom when she was 17. A second woman claims he threatened her with sexual assault at age 19 after she was left alone with him in a hotel room. A third woman alleges she engaged in sexual activity with Leto in California at age 17—an act that constitutes statutory rape under state law—noting that the actor “shrugged off” a discussion regarding the state’s age of consent being 18.
A fourth woman alleges that Leto made repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16 and, on at least one occasion, suggested they have sex. She was subsequently sent a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to prevent her from discussing their interaction, which the BBC confirmed it reviewed; the woman declined to sign the document. While the BBC reported that Leto failed to respond to direct inquiries prior to broadcast, a spokesperson issued a statement on his behalf hours after the documentary’s release, stating: “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.”
The documentary, Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret, includes testimonies from a total of 10 women alleging sexually inappropriate behavior by the actor and musician, with nine sharing their accounts publicly for the first time. The BBC noted that it verified several of the claims with friends and family members who were informed of the incidents at the time, alongside photos and text messages that support the women’s accounts.
Additionally, two former crew members for Leto’s band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, spoke out in the film, stating that staff felt uncomfortable with his conduct and alleging that he frequently invited teenage girls backstage to his dressing room or to his recording venue. Leto has maintained a high-profile acting career since the 1990s, starring in films such as Fight Club, The Thin Red Line, and Girl, Interrupted. He earned an Academy Award for his role in Dallas Buyers Club and featured in major titles including Suicide Squad, Blade Runner 2049, and Masters of the Universe. Formed in 1998, Thirty Seconds to Mars is recognized for tracks like “The Kill,” “Kings and Queens,” and “This Is War,” and is currently on a European tour with scheduled performances in London and Manchester.
These claims follow previous public allegations, including social media posts from American DJ Allie Teilz asserting that Leto assaulted her when she was 17, as well as an investigative report by Air Mail detailed claims from nine women alleging inappropriate behavior over several years—accusations Leto has consistently denied.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/
