Four women have accused Oscar-winning actor and musician Jared Leto of criminal sexual misconduct, with the alleged offenses occurring when they were teenagers. The allegations are detailed in the BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret, which features interviews with 10 women, nine of whom are speaking publicly for the first time.
Core Allegations
One woman claims she was sexually assaulted by Leto in a motel bathroom at age 17. Another alleges he threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19 after being left alone with him in a hotel room. A third woman says she had underage sex with Leto in California when she was 17, which would constitute statutory rape. The fourth woman describes being groomed by Leto, who allegedly made sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16 and suggested they have sex.
Additional Claims
The BBC reports that four other women received strange and often sexual phone calls from Leto when they were younger. Another woman claims that when she was 14, Leto instructed a security guard to take her backstage at a music festival after making a lewd comment about her chest. The girl's mother confronted Leto, but he allegedly repeated the comment.
Documentary Context
The BBC corroborated aspects of several women's accounts through friends and family members who were told about the alleged incidents at the time. The broadcaster identified more than 120 allegations posted online relating to Leto's behavior, with some dating back to the early 2000s. The allegations span from 2002 to 2016, when Leto was in his 30s and 40s. He is now 54.
Leto's Response
Newsweek contacted Leto for comment, but he did not respond. The BBC also stated that Leto did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him regarding the allegations.
Legal and Social Implications
The documentary raises questions about accountability in Hollywood and the prevalence of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in silencing victims. One of the women claims she was sent an NDA to prevent her from discussing her relationship with Leto, which she refused to sign.
Historical Context
Allegations about Leto's interactions with young women have circulated for decades. In 2005, the New York Post reported on claims that Leto had approached teenage girls, though no legal action was taken at the time.