In a recent post by the New York Times, two women have come forward with fresh allegations of abuse against actor Jonathan Majors. Emma Duncan and Maura Hooper, both of whom dated Majors between 2013 and 2019, have accused him of physical and emotional abuse. The Times’ investigation also includes interviews with 20 other individuals who claim that Majors has a long history of volatility and aggressive behavior, particularly towards female co-workers on the set of the HBO series Lovecraft Country.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Duncan and Hooper described Majors as a controlling and threatening figure who isolated them from their friends and career aspirations. Duncan shared her experience of enduring physical and emotional abuse, while Hooper recounted instances of emotional abuse during their relationships with Majors.
In response to the allegations, Majors’ lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, acknowledged that the relationships were toxic and admitted that hurtful things were said but denied most of the claims of physical abuse. Chaudhry also stated that Majors was unaware of the HBO complaint.
These new revelations come just two months after Majors was found guilty of reckless assault and harassment stemming from an incident with his ex-partner, Grace Jabbari, in March 2023. Jabbari testified that Majors injured her during an altercation in a car, as he tried to take her phone away after she discovered a text suggesting infidelity.
The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to one year, and the sentencing, originally scheduled for Monday, has been delayed until April 8.
Duncan described the impact of her relationship with Majors, saying, “You lose your sense of worth.” She also revealed that she was engaged to the actor from 2015 to 2019. Both Duncan and Hooper recounted experiences of Majors initially showering them with affectionate gestures, only to later turn violent or emotionally abusive.
Duncan submitted a statement during Majors’ domestic violence trial, alleging that he threatened to strangle and kill her in 2016. She also claimed that he physically assaulted her by slamming her body into their mailbox, leaving visible bruises. Hooper, whose relationship with Majors overlapped with Duncan’s, stated that she was isolated from a support system and recalled Majors refusing to pick her up after she had an abortion.
After their breakup, Hooper disclosed that Majors discovered she was in a relationship with someone he knew. He proceeded to verbally abuse her, calling her derogatory names and expressing vile wishes towards her. Both women also noted that Majors repeatedly threatened to take his own life throughout their relationships.
In interviews with the cast and crew of Lovecraft Country, multiple individuals recounted instances of Majors displaying aggressive behavior towards women. Several female crew members, including Jessica Pollini and Lisa Zugschwerdt, felt threatened by Majors on set, making it challenging for them to perform their duties. The Times report revealed that Pollini, Zugschwerdt, and another crew member filed a complaint with HBO, resulting in Majors being instructed to apologize. However, Pollini felt that his apology downplayed the incident as a mere misunderstanding.
Chaudhry asserted that Majors had never been informed of any objections to his behavior. The investigation continues to shed light on a disturbing pattern of control, violence, and hostility surrounding the actor’s actions.
