Famous Hollywood actor and frontman of the band "Thirty Seconds to Mars," Jared Leto (54), has been accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women, including minors, a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the global entertainment industry. Leto's camp has categorically denied the allegations and taken a hard line.
On the 29th (local time), according to U.S. entertainment outlet Page Six and other foreign media, Jared Leto issued an official response to the sexual crime allegations raised in the BBC documentary "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret," which aired in the U.K.
In a statement sent to Page Six, Jared Leto said, "I have never raped anyone in my life," and strongly denied the claims in the documentary as "absolutely and categorically false (without foundation)."
In the BBC documentary, several alleged victims, using pseudonyms including "Isabel," "Alex," "Clara" and "Etta," appeared and vividly accused Jared Leto of sexual misconduct committed when they were teenagers.
According to the allegations, the first incident occurred in 2002. Isabel, who was 17 at the time, claimed that Oscar winner Jared Leto raped her in a motel bathroom. Four years later, in 2006, she alleged he had sex with Clara, who was also 17, and that when they discussed California's age of consent at the time, Leto dismissed it inappropriately.
Alex also claimed she was threatened with rape by Leto in a hotel room when she was 19, and Etta alleged that from the following year, when she was 16, Leto groomed her (a process of conditioning for sexual exploitation). Etta said she repeatedly received sexually explicit phone calls from Leto and was even propositioned for sex, adding to the shock.
Another woman, Taylor, alleged that during a music festival signing event, Leto made sexual comments about her breasts in front of her mother and instructed a security guard to take her backstage. In addition, four other women alleged they received sexually explicit phone calls from Leto.
Members of Leto's band staff who participated in the project also testified. They said that whenever Leto invited groups of underage people to waiting rooms or to houses where music recording work was taking place, the significant age difference caused considerable discomfort and concern among staff.
This is not the first sexual scandal for Jared Leto. Just a year ago, a report by the magazine Air Mail revealed allegations from nine women accusing him of sexually inappropriate behavior. At that time, Leto "clearly denied" the charges.
Moreover, about 20 years ago, the New York Post reported that Leto approached teenage models at the New York Maritime Hotel, made advances, and repeatedly texted 16- and 17-year-olds, bringing his past conduct back into scrutiny.
Foreign media and the public are revisiting and sharply criticizing past eccentric behaviors, such as the time he sent male sex toys to fellow actors during the "Suicide Squad" shoot, which caused controversy, and the bizarre cult-like activities that reportedly took place on the so-called "Mars Island."
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