Jonathan Majors: Former Marvel star avoids jail over assault of ex-girlfriend

Former Marvel star Jonathan Majors has been sentenced to probation and ordered to complete a counselling programme after assaulting his former girlfriend – avoiding a prison sentence.

The 34-year-old had faced up to a year in jail after he was convicted of a misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation by a jury in Manhattan, New York, in December.

A star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Majors featured in the series Loki, and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania. He was cast as Kang the Conqueror, a role the entertainment empire has planned as a main villain for its film and TV shows for years to come.

The charges against the actor stemmed from a dispute between him and his British ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, that began in the back seat of a car in New York City in March 2023.

Ms Jabbari, a 31-year-old dancer, accused Majors of an attack inside the vehicle that left her in “excruciating” pain. She said he hit her head with his open hand, twisted her arm behind her back, and squeezed her middle finger until it fractured.

In a victim statement read out in court during his sentencing on Monday, Ms Jabbari said the incident had left her with extreme emotional and physical pain.

During the trial, Majors claimed Ms Jabbari was the aggressor, saying she had flown into a jealous rage after reading a text message from another woman on his phone. He maintained he was only trying to regain his phone and escape her safely.

Jurors found him guilty of two charges following a trial, but he was acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment.

Shortly after the verdict, a spokesperson for Marvel, which is owned by Disney, said he would no longer appear in future projects.

The actor, also a star of Creed III, has lost various acting roles and endorsement deals, and Magazine Dreams, a drama about a bodybuilder he was due to star in, was pulled from release.

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced in February, but his lawyers sought to dismiss the conviction. A Manhattan judge denied that motion last week.

Before the guilty verdict, Majors had hoped his two-week criminal trial would vindicate him and restore his status in Hollywood.

In a television interview shortly after his conviction, he had said he deserves a second chance.

He did not comment as he left the courtroom following his sentencing.

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