Recent reports from various news outlets indicate that actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, with some claiming they were underage during their interactions with him. Leto’s representatives have firmly denied these accusations, stating that they are unfounded.

Understanding the Allegations and Leto’s Official Responses

WARNING: Graphic Content Ahead

On June 7, a feature article titled “The Cult of Leto” was published by Air Mail, which includes the provocative subtitle: “He has acted in everything from American Psycho to House of Gucci. Now Jared Leto stands accused of impropriety by nine women.”

The article opens with a striking narrative:

Six summers ago, a significant number of Jared Leto’s devoted followers gathered on Mars Island, a secluded resort located off the coast of Croatia. Over the course of three days, these fans—many of whom were young women and some who paid upwards of $6,499 to attend—engaged in meditation, chanting, and relaxed barefoot in caftans alongside Leto. Not only is he known for his roles in films like American Psycho, Fight Club, House of Gucci, and Blade Runner 2049, but he is also the lead vocalist of Thirty Seconds to Mars. This event was marketed as a “spiritual retreat,” while the French publication L’Officiel referred to it as “The Cult of Jared Leto.”

While the full details of the article are locked behind a subscription paywall, numerous other media outlets have reported extensively on the claims made against him.

According to The Guardian, “multiple women have accused Jared Leto of inappropriate behavior, with some labeling the 53-year-old actor and musician’s actions as ‘predatory, terrifying, and unacceptable.’”

The exposé by Air Mail highlights that nine women allege Leto has engaged in inappropriate behavior over the years, including flirting with minors. One woman specifically recounted an incident from 2006 when she was just 16 years old; she claims Leto approached her outside a café in Los Angeles, while he was seated with fellow actor Ashley Olsen, who was 19 at the time. The woman stated that Leto grabbed her arm” (as reported by The Guardian).

“I looked down and it was Jared Leto,” she shared with Air Mail (via The Guardian), adding, “We had a quick conversation, and he got my number.” Shortly thereafter, Leto reportedly called her home, during which she described his voice as “the weirdest, grossest voice … for me, it’s Jared, you know?” People magazine indicated that the same woman expressed that “He changed – his voice, the way he talked. It scared me. That was the first time I thought, ‘Oh, my God, that’s not just in the movies.’”

However, according to Us Weekly, a spokesperson for Leto informed Air Mail that he “has not had a drink or used drugs in over 35 years.”

The Guardian also notes that while the woman was invited to a gathering at Leto’s home, she chose not to attend, explaining to Air Mail: “I didn’t even have a driver’s license.” Despite this, she claimed that Leto persistently called her “at one, two, three AM,” stating, “And the conversations turned sexual. He’d ask things like: ‘Have you ever had a boyfriend? Have you ever sucked a dick?’”

In a similar vein, People magazine reported that another woman claimed she was “definitely not the youngest person there” while attending a party at Leto’s residence in the 2000s when she was 18. According to her, the primary focus of the party seemed to be encouraging girls to go skinny dipping.

That being said, People further relayed that “A representative for Leto told Air Mail that ‘there was never any recruiting, complaints or impropriety.’” Nightlife promoter Brent Bolthouse, who organized several events at Leto’s home, stated to the outlet that he “never saw anyone skinny-dipping.”

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Model Laura La Rue also shared her experiences with Leto in an interview with Air Mail.

As detailed by The Guardian, La Rue recounted an incident from 2008 when she was 16 years old and Leto was 20 years her senior. She was “at an event in a private residence in Beverly Hills where Leto was ‘watching her so intensely.’” Reportedly, he inquired about her age, and despite her response, he still asked for her phone number. This led to the beginning of an “email correspondence,” which ultimately resulted in her visiting Leto’s home in April 2009.

“I remember him teasing me the whole time… He was flirting with me. He’d lean in close, then pull away, like it was a game,” she told Air Mail (via The Guardian).

Moreover, La Rue recalled that during another visit (when she was 17), Leto approached her while completely nude. “He just walked out, dick out, like it was a normal… I thought maybe this was just what adult men do,” she reflected (via The Guardian).

The Guardian further mentions that “in a statement to Air Mail, a representative of Leto claimed that ‘communications’ between Leto and La Rue ‘contain nothing sexual or inappropriate … and Ms La Rue later applied to work as Mr. Leto’s personal assistant, further underscoring the absence of anything inappropriate in any of their interactions.’”

However, it is reported that “Air Mail” indicates La Rue denies ever applying for a personal assistant role with Leto.

Additional reports from various publications, including others, detail that the Air Mail article addresses several other women, including Allie Teilz, a DJ and music producer based in Los Angeles, who have made similar allegations regarding their interactions with Leto during their underage years.

Finally, The Guardian notes that “A representative of Leto has ‘expressly denied’ the various women’s accusations reported in Air Mail, including Teilz’s claims, which the representative asserts are ‘demonstrably false.’”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, it is crucial to seek help. Resources are available; visit the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) or call 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673) for support.