New York, NY – Two women have come forward with new abuse allegations against actor Jonathan Majors, citing physical and emotional abuse in a report from The New York Times.
In the report, it was mentioned that interviews with 20 other people alleged that Majors has a “history of volatility” and that he confronted female coworkers while on the set of the HBO series Lovecraft Country, leading several to complain to the network.
The New York Times report references accounts from Emma Duncan and Maura Hooper, who say they dated Majors between 2013 and 2019. Duncan told the Times that Majors physically and emotionally abused her, and Hooper alleged emotional abuse. Both women described Majors as “a controlling, threatening figure who isolated them from friends and career pursuits.”
Priya Chaudhry, a lawyer for Majors, admitted that the relationships with Duncan and Hooper were toxic and that Majors “did say hurtful things,” but denied most of the claims of physical abuse and said he did not know about the HBO complaint. Chaudhry did not immediately respond for further comment.
The new allegations come only two months after Majors was found guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree stemming from an incident in March 2023 between the actor and his ex-partner Grace Jabbari. The charges carry a potential sentence of up to one year in prison, and the sentencing was delayed to April 8.
In a statement submitted during the pretrial of Majors’ domestic violence trial, Duncan alleged that Majors “threatened to strangle and kill her” in 2016. That same year, she claimed that he “slammed her body into their mailbox” during an argument, leaving bruises on her back and arms. Hooper’s relationship with Majors briefly overlapped with Duncan’s. In a statement obtained by the Times, Hooper claimed she was “not allowed to speak to anyone about their relationship, isolating her from a support system.” After their breakup, Hooper then recalled Majors discovering she was in a relationship with someone he knew. She claims he called her on the phone to tell her she was a “whore” and said, “I hope you die; kill yourself” and “I’m going to rip you out of my heart the way they ripped our baby out of you.”
In interviews with cast and crew from HBO’s Lovecraft Country, several people recalled ways in which Majors’ demeanor vacillated depending on who he was around, often proving prone to arguments with women. Several female crew members recalled incidents of feeling threatened by Majors while on set and that his behavior made it difficult for them to do their jobs. A complaint was submitted to HBO about Majors, which resulted in the actor being told to apologize.
The new allegations raise serious concerns about the behavior of Jonathan Majors and highlight the importance of addressing and preventing abuse and mistreatment in the entertainment industry. This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges women face in speaking out against powerful figures and the need for accountability and support for survivors.