Four women have accused actor and singer Jared Leto of criminal sexual conduct in a new BBC documentary, with the alleged offences occurring when the women were teenagers. The incidents are said to have taken place between 2002 and 2016, when Leto was in his 30s and 40s; he is now 54. The documentary, Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret, was released on Wednesday.
Allegations of Assault and Statutory Rape
One woman alleges Leto assaulted her in a motel bathroom when she was 17. Another claims he threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19 after she was unexpectedly left alone with him in a hotel room. A third woman alleges she had sex with Leto in California when she was 17, which would be classified as statutory rape; she said the actor "shrugged off" a conversation about the age of consent being 18 in the state. A fourth woman alleges that Leto made repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16, and on at least one occasion suggested they should have sex. She was subsequently sent a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to prevent her from talking about her relationship with Leto, which the BBC said it had seen. The woman refused to sign the NDA.
Documentary and Investigation
Despite repeated attempts to contact him, the BBC said Leto had not responded to the allegations. The documentary features a total of 10 women alleging the actor behaved in a sexually inappropriate way towards them, with nine sharing their stories publicly for the first time. The broadcaster said it had corroborated "a number of the women's accounts with friends and family who were told about the encounters with Leto at the time" and had seen pictures and messages supporting the accounts.
The documentary also includes two accounts from individuals who worked with Leto's band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, who said staff felt uncomfortable about his conduct. They allege that he would sometimes invite teenage girls backstage to his dressing room or to the house where he was recording.
Background and Previous Allegations
Leto has been a prominent actor since the 1990s, with roles in Fight Club, The Thin Red Line, and Girl, Interrupted. He won an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club and has appeared in Suicide Squad, Blade Runner 2049, and most recently Masters of the Universe. Thirty Seconds to Mars, formed in 1998, is touring Europe with dates in London and Manchester next year.
Last year, American DJ Allie Teilz alleged on social media that Leto assaulted her when she was 17. In a separate report in Air Mail, nine women accused Leto of engaging in inappropriate behaviour. He denied those allegations.
Support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
