Jonathan Majors has been swiftly dropped from Marvel and Disney Studios after he was found guilty of assaulting and harassing his former partner.
A New York City jury convicted the 34-year-old on two out of four charges: one account of third degree assault and another on aggravated harassment. The judge also issued a new protection order, insisting Majors was to have no contact with his victim.
Majors was arrested in New York in March this year after his ex-girlfriend, British dancer Grace Jabbari, accused him of slapping her and throwing her into a vehicle. She also claimed he twisted her arm and injured her hand.
Jabbari had a fractured finger, bruising and a cut behind her ear following the incident.
Throughout the trial, Majors denied any wrongdoing.
He will face sentencing for his conviction in February, and could face a year-long prison sentence.
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Just hours after the guilty verdicts were recorded, a spokesperson for Marvel confirmed the studios had severed all ties with the actor.
It marks an abrupt end to the stratospheric rise of Majors’s career.
The actor was due to star as Kang the Conqueror, the next major villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He made his debut in the multi-billion dollar franchise in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as well as starring in Disney+ series, Loki.
Marvel had previously pushed back the release dates for Avengers: Kang Dynasty, where Majors was set to feature. Its follow-up film, Avengers: Secret Wars, has also been delayed.
It has not yet been confirmed whether Marvel executives will choose to recast the role, or whether the franchise will move in another direction away from the character.
Jabbari's lawyer, Brittany Henderson, said her client had shown "irrefutable strength and poise while being forced to relive, both in court and very publicly, the abuse she was subjected to".
"Her unwavering resolve to see this case through to the end is borne out of a desire to show other survivors and victims of domestic violence, that they too, can hold their abuser accountable," she said in a statement to the PA.
Meanwhile, legal representatives for Majors said the actor "still has faith in the process and looks forward to fully clearing his name."
Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, Teresa Parker, head of media for Women's Aid, said: "The swift decision by Marvel to drop Jonathan Majors shows that the organisation takes domestic abuse seriously. Especially when a person has a public-facing role, immediate action like this sends a message that violence against women will not be tolerated in society, which is vital if we are to reduce it.
"Survivors of domestic abuse face many barriers in getting help and seeking justice, and all employers, like Marvel, have an important role to play in responding to domestic violence."
Sarah Berry-Valentine, Press Manager at Refuge, told Cosmopolitan UK: "We are glad to see domestic abuse being recognised as the serious crime that it is by these corporations. It’s imperative for survivors to see that perpetrators are held accountable for committing these heinous crimes.
"The decision to discontinue working with Majors sends an important message - that fame and status should not protect perpetrators of domestic abuse from the real-world consequences of their actions. Equally, we need to see all organisations sending this clear message of zero tolerance of domestic abuse. This case should serve to remind us of the importance of standing in solidarity with the many women and their children who are experiencing domestic abuse, to demonstrate that there is no place for perpetrators of gender-based violence in society and acknowledge that domestic abuse is a serious crime."
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
