Jonathan Majors returns to the spotlight after assault conviction, but his redemption press tour hasn't gone as planned
There's a lot riding on this film for Majors, who was fired by Marvel after his 2023 conviction.
Jonathan Majors is trying to make a Hollywood comeback — and his press tour this week has had some wild twists and turns.
The actor, 35, is promoting Magazine Dreams, his first film since he was convicted in December 2023 of assaulting then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, a British dancer, in March of that year. His comeback tour has resulted in a dizzying number of headlines that have been both expected (like his first interview since the sentencing) and shocking (leaked audio of his alleged assault confession). Then there was the total curveball: Wait, he married Meagan Good three days before his movie came out?
When a celebrity is fighting for their career — which Majors most certainly is, having been fired by Marvel after his domestic violence conviction — you can’t help but wonder what is real and what might be for PR purposes on a press tour like this. (Certainly, the leaked audio was not part of the redemption tour.) What we do know is that it’s been a very eventful week for Majors, who plays an aspiring bodybuilder struggling to find human connection in the film that’s out on March 21.
Here are the biggest moments.
March 14: Majors gave 1st interview since conviction, revealed childhood abuse
Majors was profiled for the first time since he was sentenced to probation and a 52-week domestic violence intervention program in April 2024. He told the Hollywood Reporter he wasn’t able to comment directly on Jabbari’s allegations (they settled a civil lawsuit last year). He did say that after the trial, in addition to completing a domestic violence program, he underwent therapy to deal with childhood trauma. He revealed publicly for the first time that he had been sexually abused as a child.
“I dealt with sexual abuse from both men and women from the time I was 9,” Majors said. “From people who are supposed to look after you, in the absence of a father. I was f***ed up.” He said it has led to examining his behavior in personal relationships, saying, “There are no excuses, but by getting help, you begin to understand things about yourself.”
In the article, a number of Majors’s past colleagues and friends, including Whoopi Goldberg, put their names on the line by vouching for him.
“You don’t get to say sorry these days,” The View co-host, who appeared with Majors in 2017’s When We Rise, said. “He was arrested. He went to court. He did what he was supposed to do. I’m not sure what else there is.”
Michael B. Jordan, who directed and co-starred with Majors in Creed III, told the publication, “I would love to make Creed IV together — among other projects.”
March 17: Audio surfaced of Majors admitting to choking Jabbari
Things went very off track when Rolling Stone, which published a story on Majors’s alleged pattern of physical, mental and emotional abuse in 2023, produced audio of an alleged recorded conversation between the Majors and Jabbari, which included his purported admission that he attempted to choke her.
Related to a previous incident between them in 2022, a male voice reported to be Majors said, “I’m ashamed I’ve ever —. I’ve never [been] aggressive with a woman before. I’ve never aggressed a woman — I aggressed you.”
The female voice said to be Jabbari replied, “You strangled me and pushed me against the car.”
The male voice reported to be Majors replied, “Yes, all those things are under ‘aggressed.’”
March 18: Majors married Good
One day after the audio surfaced, Majors married his actress girlfriend. The small, private backyard wedding took place at their home in Los Angeles and Majors’s mother, a pastor, officiated the ceremony, Entertainment Tonight reported. The only other attendee was Good’s mother.
Majors and Good were first linked in May 2023 after his arrest. She supported him throughout his high-profile trial. The couple confirmed their engagement in November 2024 on the red carpet of the Ebony Power 100 Gala, where they met two years earlier.
March 19: Majors discussed leaked audio, conviction, wedding
Majors had extra damage control to do during his interview on Sherri.
Asked about the leaked audio, Majors didn’t deny it was him in the recording. As for the timing of it being released, as he’s trying to salvage his career, Majors said, “God has a plan and sometimes you just throw your hands up … I've let go of control. I just say, ‘Whatever it is, it is.’”
Host Sherri Shepherd brought up his conviction as well. While it was again noted that he couldn’t speak about specifics, he admitted, “Chaos came.” However, it’s “been a healing journey” and “two years of growth, healing [and] accountability.”
He said he “brought in The Avengers of therapists” and also leaned on religion. Today “I feel different,” he said. “I love the man I am now.”
Majors confirmed his wedding and teared up talking about it. He called it “the happiest day of my life … I love that woman so much.”
He said it was a small affair but suggested it was pre-planned. Majors talked about speaking to Good’s father to get permission, and the couple had their wedding rings engraved during a trip to Hawaii.
Majors’s mother was in town for a Magazine Dreams screening when they told her, “We’re going to do this thing — and we did.” Good’s mom served as the witness.
March 21: Magazine Dreams is set to open — and we’ll know if any of this PR play worked.
In an interview with USA Today, Majors said what will be, will be when it comes to his career.
“All I can do, like [his Magazine Dreams character] Killian, is dream and hope and put a plan in place.” However the “next chapter” plays out, he said he knows that personally, he’ll be “the best version of myself.”