Jonathan Majors is set to undergo trial for domestic abuse charges after a New York judge denied the motion to dismiss the case. The trial date is scheduled for Nov. 29.
Majors appeared via Zoom in a lower Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday because he is currently out of state. His defense attorneys filed a motion during the hearing, requesting that “contested evidence” be sealed and kept from public view due to the high-profile nature of the case and the allegations against Majors. Defense attorney Seth Zuckerman expressed concern that the disclosure of sensitive information could limit Majors’ right to a fair trial. The judge has not yet ruled on the motion and allowed reporters in the room to submit opposition papers by Nov. 6.
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The Marvel actor was arrested in Manhattan on March 25 and charged with assault and aggravated harassment following an alleged domestic dispute with his then-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Majors has pleaded not guilty to the four charges against him. If convicted of misdemeanor charges of harassment and assault, he could face up to one year in jail.
Prior to the hearing, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office filed a 115-page response opposing Majors’ motion to dismiss the case. The document alleges that Majors’ legal team leaked and misrepresented court evidence and attempted to create a wanted poster with Jabbari’s photo.
At the time of the arrest, Jabbari reported to officers that she was assaulted and taken to the hospital with minor injuries to her head and neck after an alleged altercation in a taxi. Majors’ defense attorneys argued that it was Jabbari who assaulted Majors, not the other way around, and suggested that racial bias influenced the investigation, describing the case as a “witch hunt” against the Emmy-nominated actor.
Majors’ criminal defense lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, claims to have evidence that clears Majors of any wrongdoing, including surveillance video showing Jabbari unharmed after the alleged assault. However, the prosecution’s recent filing disputes this claim, stating that the surveillance video actually shows Jabbari visibly upset, crying, and seeking help from strangers to get home.
Jabbari was granted a temporary order of protection in April, which prohibits any direct or third-party contact between the two parties. The order remains in effect.
As the court date approached, additional alleged victims of Majors came forward and cooperated with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
In light of the allegations, Majors has been removed from feature film projects and dropped by his PR team at the Lede Company, as well as his management company, Entertainment 360. However, WME still represents the Emmy-nominated actor. Majors is set to star in the upcoming drama “Magazine Dreams,” scheduled for release in December. He also has a major role as the villainous Kang the Conqueror in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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