Four Women Accuse Jared Leto of Criminal Sexual Conduct in BBC Documentary

Four Women Allege Criminal Sexual Conduct by Jared Leto

Four women have accused actor Jared Leto of criminal sexual conduct, claiming the offenses took place when they were teenagers. The allegations surface in a new BBC documentary titled "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret," scheduled to air on Wednesday.

In total, ten women come forward with allegations against the 54-year-old actor in the documentary. According to the BBC, nine of these women are sharing their stories publicly for the first time.

The Specific Allegations Detailed in the Documentary

The documentary presents a range of accusations spanning different circumstances. Among them, one woman states that Leto sexually assaulted her in a motel bathroom at age 17. Another woman claims that Leto threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19.

A third woman describes having sex with Leto in California when she was 17, which is below the state's age of consent of 18. Under California law, this would be classified as statutory rape. She claims that when the age of consent was discussed, the actor "shrugged off" the conversation.

A fourth woman alleges that Leto made repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16. She claims that on at least one occasion, he suggested they should have sex.

Non-Disclosure Agreement and Pattern of Phone Calls

The BBC reports that it has seen a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that the fourth woman was asked to sign, intended to prevent her from discussing her relationship with Leto. She refused to sign the document.

Four additional women accuse Leto of making what they describe as "strange and often very sexual" phone calls to them when they were younger. All of the women featured in the documentary state that the interactions occurred between 2002 and 2016, a period when Leto, now 54, was in his 30s and 40s.

Corroboration Efforts and Band Staff Accounts

The BBC states that it has corroborated "a number of the women's accounts with friends and family who were told about the encounters with Leto at the time." In some cases, the broadcaster has also reviewed pictures and messages that it says "support the women's accounts."

Two men who worked with Leto's band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, also spoke to the documentary. They claimed that staff felt uncomfortable about the way Leto interacted with teenage girls, alleging that he would sometimes invite them backstage to his dressing room or to the house where he was recording.

"I think everyone thought the age gap was way too big," one of the men said.

Background: Who Is Jared Leto?

Jared Leto is an Academy Award-winning actor who has maintained a prominent career in Hollywood. He also serves as the frontman for the band Thirty Seconds to Mars, which has toured internationally and maintained a dedicated fanbase. The allegations in the documentary span a 14-year period from 2002 to 2016, covering a significant portion of his career in both film and music.

The use of non-disclosure agreements in the entertainment industry has been a subject of public debate in recent years, with growing scrutiny over their role in preventing individuals from discussing their experiences. The refusal of one woman to sign such an agreement, as reported by the BBC, highlights this ongoing tension.

One of the alleged victims reflected on the passage of time since the encounters, stating: "This was 25 years ago… he has gotten away with it."

What to Watch Next

The BBC documentary "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret" airs on Wednesday, bringing these allegations to a wider public audience. Variety has reached out to Leto's representatives for comment, though no response has been reported at the time of publication.

The BBC's stated efforts to corroborate the women's accounts through friends, family, photographs, and messages suggest a thorough journalistic approach to the allegations. The involvement of former band staff members in the documentary adds another layer to the reporting, as they provide insight into the environment surrounding Leto's music career during the period in question.

As the documentary reaches audiences, attention will likely turn to whether Leto responds publicly and whether any further individuals come forward. The allegations, which span over a decade of the actor's career, may also prompt discussion about accountability in the entertainment industry.

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Source: Variety