Jared Leto Faces Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

The singer and actor Jared Leto has been accused of criminal sexual misconduct by four women. These allegations are detailed in a new documentary by the BBC, titled Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret. One woman claimed that Leto sexually assaulted her in a motel when she was 17. Another woman said she had sex with him at the same age in California, where the age of consent is 18. She mentioned that Leto dismissed her concerns about her age. A third woman accused him of threatening her with sexual assault when she was 19, while a fourth woman claimed Leto groomed her at 16, using his celebrity status to make sexually explicit communications.

Newsweek tried to contact Leto via email for comment outside of regular working hours. The BBC reported that Leto did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him regarding these accusations.

Details from the BBC Documentary

The BBC documentary includes interviews with ten women, nine of whom speak publicly for the first time. These women reported encounters with Leto between 2002 and 2016, when he was in his 30s and 40s. The broadcaster corroborated parts of some women’s accounts through their friends and family who were informed at the time.

Among those interviewed was a woman identified as Isabel. She met Leto in 2002 while working at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas when she was 17. Isabel recounted meeting him later at what she believed to be his hotel, which turned out to be a “dingy motel.” She said in the documentary, “I had viewed this event as, I was a stupid girl that did something stupid, did something dumb, and so this bad thing happened.” She now recognizes that it was not her fault.

The documentary also includes other women’s accounts of meeting Leto at concerts, after-parties, and through the music and modeling industries. Many said they reevaluated these encounters as they grew older.

Profile of Jared Leto

Jared Leto became known as an actor in the 1990s and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014. He has appeared in Fight Club, Blade Runner 2049, and Suicide Squad. In addition to acting, Leto is the lead vocalist for Thirty Seconds to Mars, a band he formed with his brother Shannon Leto in 1998. The band continues to perform internationally and plans to tour the U.K. and Europe next year.

Longstanding Allegations

Allegations about Leto’s behavior with young women have persisted for years. The BBC discovered more than 120 allegations online regarding his conduct, some of which date back to the early 2000s. A 2005 New York Post article mentioned claims of Leto approaching teenage girls at a New York hotel and exchanging texts with them. These claims resurfaced in 2025 when Air Mail published accusations from nine women of sexual impropriety involving teenagers. Leto’s representative denied these allegations.

Concerns from Former Crew Members

The documentary features former crew members of Thirty Seconds to Mars. They reported unease about the age of girls invited into the band’s circle. A former crew member, “Simon,” recalled Leto frequently communicating with young women during recording sessions. He mentioned regular visits by young girls, one of whom appeared “very young looking,” who was dropped off by her parents.

Another crew member, “Brad,” described requests for female models to receive VIP tickets during tours, which came directly from Leto. Brad said the age gap caused discomfort among the staff. Simon noted that women’s accounts that emerged in recent years felt similar to what he witnessed while working with the band.

Leto’s Absence in ‘Masters of the Universe’ Promotion

Leto’s latest film role was in Masters of the Universe, where he played Skeletor. Despite being a major star, he was largely absent from promotional activities for the film. This low-profile contrasted with his prominent public image as an Oscar-winning actor and musician.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Emma Lee-Sang
Update 7/29/26, 3:44 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 7/29/26, 4:27 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.