The BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret aired last week, claiming that four women accuse the actor and frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars of criminal sexual conduct. All alleged encounters happened when the women were teenagers between the years 2002 and 2016, when Leto was in his thirties and forties. The accusations include assault, threats, statutory rape and repeated sexual phone calls.
Motel bathroom assault
An unnamed woman, 17 at the time, says she was taken to a motel bathroom where Leto immediately began kissing her. He opened the shower curtain and masturbated himself using her hand. Shocked, she fled the room and later realized Leto was in his thirties.
Hotel room threats
Another victim, 19, claims Leto threatened her with sexual assault after she was left alone with him in a hotel room. When she asked if she could leave or contact a hotel staff, Leto allegedly responded that she would be left with a "dick in her ass" and threatened further aggression.
Statutory rape in California
A 17‑year‑old woman reported being lured to Leto’s home in California where they had sex. Leto allegedly shrugged off a conversation about the 18‑year age of consent and asked her to call him “daddy.” The girl’s father worked in law enforcement, which made the allegations even more grievous.
Sexual phone calls and NDA
A 16‑year‑old model says she received sexual phone calls from Leto after he asked for her email address. The calls included questions such as “Are you a virgin?” and references to future sexual activity. She was later told that the actor’s lawyer wanted to send her a non‑disclosure agreement, which she refused to sign. The BBC obtained copies of the texts and the unsigned document.
Leto’s reaction
After the article was published, Leto’s representatives quoted him saying: “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.” No interview with the actor was forthcoming.
The BBC has corroborated several of the stories with friends and family, and witnessed photos and messages confirming the testimonies. In total, ten women have spoken to the BBC documentary, nine of whom are releasing details for the first time.
For more information on the documentary, watch at BBC iPlayer. If you have been affected by sexual abuse, please consider contacting the BBC Action Line via the link in the original article or by emailing help@bbc.co.uk.
