Jonathan Majors, the actor set to appear in court on May 8 for domestic violence charges, is facing a deepening public relations crisis. According to sources familiar with the matter, multiple alleged victims of Majors have come forward and are cooperating with the Manhattan district attorney’s office. This development comes shortly after Majors’ publicists and management firm severed ties with him.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment on the situation. In response to the allegations, Majors’ attorney, Priya Chaudhry, issued a statement asserting his innocence and providing evidence to the district attorney to refute the charges.
On March 25, Majors was arrested in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood on charges of strangulation, assault, and harassment. The New York Police Department stated that a 30-year-old woman reported being assaulted by Majors, resulting in minor injuries to her head and neck. However, Chaudhry immediately countered these claims, contending that Majors was actually the victim of an altercation with the woman, whom he knows. Chaudhry released a statement while Majors was still in custody.
Chaudhry’s husband, Andrew Bourke, is acting as Majors’ crisis publicist and supported the narrative of Majors being the victim by sharing a series of text messages on March 30. These messages, which have not been independently verified, were intended to exonerate Majors. In the messages, the woman reportedly admitted fault for attempting to grab Majors’ phone and stressed that she informed the police that it was not an attack. She expressed anger over his arrest and assured Majors that he wouldn’t be charged. However, these text messages raised doubts among those working with Majors, with some questioning why the woman had lost consciousness during the incident.
Majors, who had recently gained prominence in Hollywood with lucrative roles, including the portrayal of Kang in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty,” is now under scrutiny regarding his future projects. Despite the ongoing situation, Majors is still attached to star in the film, set for release on May 2, 2025. He is also slated to appear in “Avengers: Secret Wars” in 2026. Disney is closely monitoring the situation and has time to make informed decisions.
Disney’s involvement is further complicated by the fact that the alleged victim from the Manhattan incident also worked on the film “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” in which Majors played the character Kang the Conqueror.
Majors has stepped down from his positions on the boards of the Gotham Film and Media Institute and the Sidney Poitier Initiative. The news of Majors’ publicists parting ways with him before his court appearance has sent shockwaves through the industry. Currently, WME continues to represent Majors, and the agency’s client advisory committee is evaluating the situation to determine the course of action.
Following Majors’ arraignment on March 26 for misdemeanor charges of assault and aggravated harassment, additional concerns were raised. Broadway actor Tim Nicolai, who worked with Majors, tweeted about people’s attempts to address the issue and expressed support for the victims who have come forward. Nicolai confirmed his statement when contacted by Variety.
Majors was released on his own recognizance with a limited order of protection. However, he has been dropped from various projects, including Protagonist Pictures’ “The Man in My Basement.” The Texas Rangers baseball team has removed him from their 2023 season ad campaign, and he will no longer attend the Met Gala alongside fashion house Valentino. The studio behind the Dennis Rodman biopic “48 Hours in Vegas” and Spike Lee’s project “Da Understudy” are also closely monitoring the situation before
