Jonathan Majors avoids imprisonment, ordered year-long counseling in assault case
Former Marvel star Jonathan Majors was spared jail time by a court order on Monday, instead being mandated to undergo a year of domestic violence counseling. This ruling comes after Majors was convicted of two charges—third-degree assault and second-degree harassment—in December for assaulting his former partner Grace Jabbari. During Monday's hearing in New York, Judge Michael Gaffey remarked, "Jail is not necessary."
Failure to comply with conditions could lead to jail term
Judge Gaffey's decision was reportedly based on the consensus that imprisonment wasn't necessary given it was Majors's first offense and he had no prior criminal record. As part of his sentence, the 34-year-old actor must attend a year-long batterer's intervention program in Los Angeles and continue his ongoing mental health therapy. Failure to comply with these conditions could lead to a one-year jail term for Majors. He has also been ordered to avoid any contact with Jabbari.
'He will hurt other women': Jabbari expressed fear
To note, the actor's ex-girlfriend has also been "granted a protection order." Despite these measures, Jabbari expressed her fears in court, stating, "He's not sorry. He thinks he's above the law." She also voiced her concern that he may repeat the violent behavior with other women. Jabbari reportedly said, "He was not only trying to intimidate me but paint me as crazy. He is not sorry and has not accepted responsibility. He will do this again...he will hurt other women."
Assault incident led to major career setbacks for Majors
The charges against Majors stem from a March 2023 incident where Jabbari alleged he assaulted her in a chauffeured vehicle. Following the guilty verdict in December, Marvel Studios cut ties with the actor, who had been cast as Kang the Conqueror. The studio had planned for him to be the primary antagonist in its future films and TV series, leaving their storyline direction uncertain. Meanwhile, Disney's Searchlight postponed the release of Magazine Dreams, featuring Majors as a bodybuilder.
Majors maintains innocence, plans to appeal verdict
Majors continues to assert his innocence and plans to appeal the verdict. Despite his claims of innocence, Jabbari filed a civil lawsuit against him last month. His attorney, Priya Chaudhry, alleged that Jabbari might exploit any statement made by Majors "against him in her civil case." To note, Majors—accompanied by his current girlfriend Meagan Good—refrained from making any public statements during the hearing.
Additional accusations and legal consequences for Majors
Since the criminal case began, more accusations against the actor have emerged. A Rolling Stone investigation suggested that Majors physically abused one partner and emotionally abused two others. Two of his ex-girlfriends accused him of abuse in interviews with the New York Times. Meanwhile, Jabbari's civil case against him continues, with her alleging battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, and defamation. She claims she was subjected to a "pattern of pervasive domestic abuse" from 2021 to 2023.