Four women accuse Jared Leto of sexual misconduct

Oscar-winning actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto faces accusations of criminal sexual conduct from four women. The alleged offences reportedly took place when the accusers were teenagers, with encounters spanning from 2002 to 2016, when Leto was in his 30s and 40s.

Detailed Allegations Emerge

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One woman, identified as Isabel and now in her 40s, alleges she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom at age 17. She recounted that Leto, then in his 30s, initiated sexual contact while showering. Another accuser, Alex, claims Leto threatened her with sexual assault at age 19 after she was left alone with him in a hotel room. She stated Leto responded to her request to sleep on a chaise longue by saying she would wake up 'with a dick in her ass'.

A third woman, Clara, describes engaging in under-age sex with Leto in California when she was 17. She stated that Leto dismissed concerns about the age of consent, which is 18 in California. The fourth woman, Etta, alleges she was groomed by Leto, who abused his celebrity status through repeated sexually explicit phone calls when she was 16. She claims he suggested they have sex on at least one occasion.

Broader Accusations and Corroboration

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In total, 10 women have spoken to the BBC documentary, 'Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret', with nine sharing their experiences publicly for the first time. Four additional women reported receiving strange and often sexual phone calls from Leto when they were younger. Another woman stated that at age 14, Leto instructed a security guard to take her backstage at a music festival after making a lewd comment about her chest.

The BBC reported that it has corroborated a number of the women's accounts with friends and family who were informed of the encounters at the time. The outlet also stated it has seen supporting pictures and messages in some cases. Two former crew members for Leto's band told the documentary that staff felt uncomfortable with Leto's interactions with teenage girls, including invitations backstage or to recording locations.

Leto, who is now 54, has not responded to the allegations put to him by the BBC, despite repeated attempts to contact him. Allegations regarding his behaviour towards women have circulated for decades, with the BBC noting over 120 separate online claims. Last year, similar accusations were made by nine women in an article by Air Mail, which Leto denied.

Next Steps

The documentary 'Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret' is available on iPlayer and was scheduled to air on BBC Three and BBC One on Wednesday 29 July. Thirty Seconds to Mars is set to tour mainland Europe and the UK in the spring, with scheduled concerts at London's O2 arena and Manchester's Co-op Live.