Jonathan Majors, who plays the supervillain Kang in the MCU, found himself entangled in a domestic assault case with his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Disney had encountered a similar situation with Johnny Depp earlier, leading to the termination of the contract with the Pirates of the Caribbean actor before a thorough examination of the situation. However, the tables turned in favor of Depp later, and Disney faced severe backlash for its hasty decision.
The studio seems to have learned a lesson from the Johnny Depp controversy and has refrained from taking a definitive stance in the Jonathan Majors case. The Creed III actor is scheduled to face trial in the New York Criminal Court on November 29.
Disney May Avoid Repeating The Mistake They Made With Johnny Depp
When Johnny Depp was accused of domestic abuse by ex-wife Amber Heard, Disney took no time in severing ties with the actor. Depp was supposed to return for a fifth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. However, Disney’s unfair treatment of the Edward Scissorhands actor became a talking point during the Depp v. Heard defamation case in 2022.
During the trial, Depp stated that he had no intention of reviving his association with Disney after being removed from the franchise prior to a verdict in the case. While Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer is still interested in bringing back the Alice in Wonderland actor, it is highly unlikely to happen due to the strained relationship.
Disney would like to avoid a similar controversy in the Jonathan Majors case. Majors was arrested on March 25 following a complaint filed by his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, accusing him of domestic assault. Consequently, Majors was dropped from major advertising deals and movie roles. However, Majors’ character, Kang, had already been established as the next big villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Speculations emerged that, with the impending trial, Marvel might consider abandoning the Kang storyline and firing the Lovecraft Country actor. However, The Hollywood Handle, via insider Daniel Richtman, reported that Marvel Studios plans to continue the Kang storyline. Majors may or may not be recast, a decision that will probably depend on the outcome of the trial, unlike Johnny Depp’s case.
What Are The Current Updates On The Domestic Assault Case Against Jonathan Majors?
As per police reports, Grace Jabbari stated that she was injured during an altercation with Jonathan Majors when she found him being unfaithful. Jabbari was also granted a temporary order of protection in May. Come June, Majors filed a counter-complaint against his accuser, stating that it was she who assaulted him by scratching his right hand and smacking him across the face.
Majors continued to present evidence to prove his innocence, while NYPD put out an investigatory card against the British dancer based on his complaint. Jabbari was arrested in October when she landed in New York and was later released on desk appearance. Meanwhile, the legal team of the Ant-Man 3 actor filed a motion to dismiss the case, accusing the prosecution of withholding evidence.
The motion was denied in October, and the trial in Majors’ case is set to begin on November 29.
