A Manhattan jury has handed down a guilty verdict to actor Jonathan Majors on charges related to an altercation with his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
This verdict could have significant implications for Majors' career, potentially affecting his role in future Marvel superhero films.
The jury found Majors, 34, guilty of one misdemeanor count of assault and one harassment violation following a trial in Manhattan Criminal Court, the New York Post has reported. The charges stemmed from an incident on March 25 when Jabbari, 30, and Majors had an argument in the back seat of a black Cadillac Escalade.
Majors was acquitted on three other charges.
Jurors in the trial began deliberating on Thursday afternoon, but still had not reached a verdict by the end of Friday.
During the trial, Jabbari testified that she had lived in fear of Majors' violent outbursts during their tumultuous two-year relationship, which ultimately ended after the actor struck her head with a "hard blow" during the car ride over the Manhattan Bridge.
The altercation began when Jabbari discovered a flirty text message on Majors' phone from another woman named "Cleopatra," which read, "wish I was kissing you right now", according to prosecutors. She snatched his phone away, and as Majors attempted to retrieve it, Jabbari tried to protect herself by curling her body away from him.
In response, Majors twisted her arm behind her back, causing severe pain, and struck her with an open hand, per NBC News.
Surveillance video presented during the trial showed Majors pushing Jabbari back into the SUV after it pulled over at Centre and Canal Streets in Chinatown. She sustained injuries during the altercation, including a gash on her right ear and a fractured right middle finger, for which she received treatment at Bellevue Hospital the following morning.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Majors maintained his innocence, with his defense arguing that Jabbari was the aggressor during the confrontation and that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he caused her injuries.
Back in March, Majors' attorney shared screenshots with NBC News that reportedly showed text messages to the MCU star from Jabbari in which she purportedly admitted "she was the one who used physical force against him."
"She also disavowed any allegations that he had done anything to her and confirmed that Mr. Majors called 911 because of her mental condition," attorney Priya Chaudhry said.
The verdict's potential impact extends beyond the courtroom, as it may disrupt Marvel's plans for Majors to star as the supervillain Kang the Conqueror in upcoming films, including Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, scheduled for release in 2026.
Majors' sentencing is pending, and he could face up to one year behind bars, although he is more likely to receive a non-jail sentence involving probation and mandated treatment.
During the trial, evidence revealed Majors' past alarming behavior during his relationship with Jabbari, including his attempts to dissuade her from seeking medical attention after she suffered a head injury in a separate incident in September 2022.
As the verdict was delivered, Majors remained stoic in the courtroom. His legal team may consider an appeal, and the outcome of his sentencing will determine the future of his career in the entertainment industry.
Jonathan Majors, originally hailing from Lompoc, California, and having received part of his education at Yale University, was poised to establish himself as a prominent figure in the film industry, known for delivering box office hits. Prior to his arrest, his career was on a significant upswing.
He made a notable appearance in the 2019 independent film "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" and garnered attention for his role in the 2020 HBO series "Lovecraft Country." This year, he took the lead in "Creed III," and his portrayal of the menacing villain "Kang the Conqueror" in Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" further solidified his presence in the entertainment world.
