Once the most promising face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Jonathan Majors was convicted by a Manhattan jury in December 2023. Behind the verdict lay a series of decisive visual and audio exhibits that exposed the darker side of the actor’s relationship with his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.

The Final Verdict

After several days of deliberation, the jury found Majors guilty of two counts:

• Third-Degree Misdemeanor Assault: Causing injury through reckless action.

• Second-Degree Harassment: A legal violation involving intent to alarm or annoy.

However, he was acquitted of the more serious charges involving intentional assault and aggravated harassment.

Pivotal Evidence Presented in Court

The prosecution’s success hinged on weaving together physical evidence to prove a cycle of both psychological and physical abuse:

1. Street Surveillance and Dashcam Footage The jury viewed footage captured outside an SUV in the Canal Street area. The video showed Majors lifting Jabbari “like a doll” and shoving her back into the vehicle after she attempted to take his phone to view an extramarital text message. Images of Majors grabbing her arm and later sprinting away from her through the streets provided a vivid look at the chaos of that night.

2. The “I Am A Great Man” Audio Recording Among the most shocking evidence was an audio recording from September 2022. In it, Majors can be heard berating Jabbari, demanding she behave according to the standards of Michelle Obama or Coretta Scott King. Majors asserted: “I am a great man. A great man. I am doing great things for my culture and the world.” Prosecutors used this recording to demonstrate the psychological control and “pedestal” requirements Majors imposed on his partner.

3. Police Body Camera Footage The court saw footage of the New York Police Department (NYPD) finding Jabbari in a state of distress, huddled in a closet at their Chelsea apartment the following morning. Images of Jabbari’s bruised ear and fractured finger corroborated her testimony of a terrifying night, directly contradicting the defense’s argument that she had spent the night partying at a bar without injury.

4. Damaging Text Messages Messages from a prior 2022 incident in London were unsealed. In them, Majors discouraged Jabbari from seeking hospital treatment for a head injury, fearing it would lead to a police investigation. He went as far as threatening to commit suicide if she did not keep the incident a secret.

Aftermath of the Conviction

Immediately following the verdict, Marvel Studios officially fired Jonathan Majors, dismantling their long-term plans to feature him as the central antagonist of the MCU’s current phases. The actor was later sentenced to complete a 52-week domestic violence intervention program in lieu of jail time.