Trigger warning: This story includes allegations of sexual assault, grooming, and sexually explicit content involving teenagers. Some readers may find the material disturbing.Oscar-winning actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto has been accused of criminal sexual conduct by four women, who allege the incidents took place when they were teenagers. The allegations are detailed in the BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret, in which a total of 10 women recount their experiences with the actor, nine of them speaking publicly for the first time.According to the BBC, the women say they encountered Leto between 2002 and 2016, when he was in his 30s and 40s. The broadcaster said it corroborated several of the accounts through conversations with friends and family members, as well as photographs, text messages and emails shared by some of the women.Among the allegations, one woman claims she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom when she was 17, another says Leto threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19, a third alleges she had sex with him at age 17 in California, which she says would constitute statutory rape under state law, while a fourth accuses him of grooming her through sexually explicit phone calls when she was 16.
Woman alleges assault at 17
A woman identified only as Isabel alleged that she was 17 when she met Leto at a motel in Las Vegas in 2002 after showing him and his friends around the store where she worked.Recalling the alleged incident, she said, “Most of my life I had viewed this event as, I was a stupid girl… and so this bad thing happened.”According to Isabel, Leto allegedly kissed her while showering and forced her to touch him sexually before she managed to leave the room.She also claimed she only later realised the actor was in his 30s after looking him up online.
Hotel room encounter and alleged threat
Another woman, identified as Alex, alleged she was 19 when she met Leto following a Thirty Seconds to Mars concert in London in 2013.She claimed she initially told him she was 17, to which he allegedly replied, “Age is just a number, and anyway, we’re in Europe.”Alex alleged that after being encouraged by one of Leto’s assistants to attend another gathering, she found herself alone with him in a hotel room. When she asked whether she could sleep on a chaise longue because she had no way of getting home, she alleged Leto repeatedly responded that she would wake up “with a dick in her ass.”Reflecting on the incident, she said, “I’m not safe.” She later texted a friend, who allegedly replied, “He was threatening sexual assault, you should report him.”Alex told the documentary she now believes “The assistant knew what to say, to lure me into his hotel room.”
Claims of underage sexual relationship
A third woman, referred to as Clara, alleged she first had sex with Leto in California when she was 17 and he was 34.She claimed Leto asked her to call him “daddy” and referred to her as “my little girl.”Clara further alleged that during a discussion about California’s age of consent, “He just kind of shrugged it off, like it wasn’t a huge concern for him.”Looking back, she said, “It was only as time went on that I realised more and more how scary that really was.”She added, “There is no well-adjusted man in his 30s who’s going to look at a teenager and think… she would be a great partner.”
Grooming and explicit calls alleged
A fourth woman, identified as Etta, alleged she met Leto at age 16 after visiting a modelling agency with her mother in Los Angeles in 2014.She claimed that after initially contacting her about an invitation to his Oscar party, conversations quickly became sexual.“He did email me and then very quickly it turns into this sexual thing on the phone,” she alleged.According to Etta, Leto asked explicit questions, including whether she was a virgin, and at one point suggested they have sex.She said she felt “nervous”, “anxious” and “uncomfortable”, but struggled to set boundaries because of her age.Etta also alleged she was later sent a non-disclosure agreement intended to prevent her from speaking publicly about her interactions with Leto. She declined to sign it.
Former crew members speak out
The documentary also includes interviews with two former members of Thirty Seconds to Mars’ crew, who alleged they were uncomfortable with Leto’s interactions with teenage girls.One former crew member, identified as Brad, claimed requests to invite female models backstage came “direct from Jared”, adding that asking agencies specifically for women felt “a little bit uncomfortable.”Another former staff member, referred to as Simon, alleged that young women regularly visited a house where the band was recording.Brad further claimed that teenage girls invited onstage during concerts were often later asked backstage to Leto’s dressing room.
Jared Leto denies sexual assault allegations
Jared Leto has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by four women who claim the alleged incidents took place when they were teenagers. Responding to the accusations on Wednesday, the actor and musician said he has “never sexually assaulted anyone.”In a statement to The Associated Press, Leto, 54, said, “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.”
Previous allegations
The BBC reported that allegations concerning Leto’s behaviour towards young women have circulated online for years and said it identified more than 120 separate claims made on the internet.Last year, Los Angeles DJ Allie Teilz publicly alleged she had been assaulted by Leto when she was 17, prompting other women to come forward. Around the same time, Air Mail published allegations from nine women accusing Leto of sexual impropriety. Leto denied those allegations.Leto, 54, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014 and has starred in films including Fight Club, Blade Runner 2049, Suicide Squad and Masters of the Universe. He has also fronted the rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars since its formation in 1998.Disclaimer: The allegations reported in this article originate from the BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret and are claims made by the women featured in it. Jared Leto has not been charged with any offence in connection with these allegations. According to the BBC, the actor did not respond to its latest requests for comment. He has previously denied similar allegations published by Air Mail in 2025. The allegations remain unproven, and no court has made findings regarding these claims.
