When word leaked out that Jonathan Majors was accused of abusing and harassing his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, his fans were all shocked. In the aftermath of his arrest, he had already suffered significant career consequences. But when a New York jury found him guilty on two of the four counts in December, the fallout was particularly dire and swift.
In addition, this conviction led to his termination from all future projects, including the MCU. And now, the 34-year-old actor has faced criticism lately regarding an audio clip from the interview he conducted with ABC News in January.
Critics claim that Majors’ ‘shaky’ demeanor, his evasive responses, and his insistence on his own innocence have cast doubt on his abilities as an actor and could damage his chances of making a Hollywood comeback. The audio, according to experts, demonstrates how “out of touch” he was with his current situation.
Jonathan Majors’ Audio Clip From ABC’s Interview: A Lost Chance for a Hollywood Comeback?
According to PR experts, Jonathan Majors awkwardly maintained his innocence while declaring he was the real victim in an interview with ABC News in January. His hesitant manner and noncommittal answers have drawn criticism. When asked how Grace Jabbari’s injuries—which were captured on camera by the police—came to be, Majors responded,
“I wish to god I knew. That would give clarity. That would give me some type of peace about it.”
Nathan Miller, the founder and CEO of Miller Ink, a Los Angeles-based crisis management and strategic communication firm, claims that the interview “tremendously undercut his credibility”. He further added (via the LA Times):
“Jonathan made a bad situation worse — one PR failure after another… There’s ways of denying you committed physical assault but also acknowledging the complexities of the situation that shows responsibility. The public doesn’t like it when they think someone is being evasive and makes themselves a victim.”
In the interview, there was also a recording that was played in court in which Majors called himself a “great man” and accused Jabbari of not measuring up to the expectations of well-known Black men’s wives. Another expert, Mark Anthony Neal, revealed:
“When he gets on TV and essentially compares himself to a Martin Luther King who needs a Coretta, it suggests just how out of touch he is with what is happening to him at this moment.”
Despite this, experts believe Majors is unlikely to go to jail, particularly since he has no past criminal convictions (per the LA Times).
Jonathan Major Receives April Sentencing for Domestic Abuse
Jonathan Majors will not be sentenced to prison for his domestic abuse conviction until April, according to Deadline.
Judge Michael Gaffey announced in his Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday that the Creed III actor would return on April 8 to find out what happened to him following a postponed and brief hearing. Prosecutors and his legal team were present in person, but Majors only made a virtual appearance during the five-minute session.
After a heated argument with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari during a chauffeured car ride escalated into a brawl that spilled into the street, Majors was arrested in New York last spring. The actor, who was found guilty on December 18 by a jury of reckless assault and harassment, could spend up to a year in jail as a first-time misdemeanor offender.
Upon sentencing, which may occur later this month, the Marvel actor may receive a year on probation or serve as a first-time offender in a misdemeanor case.
Even before the jury deliberated, Major’s career was in disarray. Following his arrest on charges of domestic abuse, roles for him vanished, prominent advertising campaigns showcasing him were canceled, and his management and PR agencies promptly sacked him.
The true test lies in his ability to learn from this experience and prove to both the public and his critics that he is deserving of a second chance. Only time will tell whether or not Majors can recover from this setback and embark on a successful Hollywood comeback.
