Campaigners are calling for the cancellation of concerts by Thirty Seconds to Mars, fronted by Jared Leto, following allegations of sexual misconduct detailed in a BBC documentary. The documentary, "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret," features accusations from 10 women, nine of whom are speaking publicly for the first time.
Two former band employees recounted in the documentary how staff felt uncomfortable with Leto's interactions with teenage girls, alleging that crew members were sometimes instructed to invite young girls backstage after they had been on stage with Leto during concerts. One former staff member stated that approximately two girls per day would typically visit Leto at a house where the band was working.
Among those who have accused Leto is an ex-model identified as Alex. She stated that her agency was invited to a Thirty Seconds to Mars concert at London's O2 arena in 2013. Alex recounted being invited to an after-party by Leto's female assistant and, despite being 19 at the time, she felt compelled to pretend she was younger when she met Leto, then 41. According to Alex, Leto responded to her statement of being 17 by saying, "Age is just a number, and anyway, we're in Europe."
Alex further alleged that one of Leto's assistants encouraged her to attend another party at a nearby hotel. Upon arrival, she found only Leto in the room. When she asked if she could sleep on a chaise longue, Alex claims Leto responded by saying that if she did, she would wake up "with a dick in her ass." Alex believes this hotel encounter was planned.
Thirty Seconds to Mars, formed by Jared Leto and his brother Shannon in the late 1990s, rose to prominence in the 2000s, headlining major arenas globally. The band is known for hits such as "The Kill," "This is War," and "Kings And Queens."
Despite multiple attempts by the BBC to contact Jared Leto prior to the documentary's publication, he did not respond to the allegations. Following the story's release, Leto issued a statement through his representatives, stating, "I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false."
Leto is scheduled to perform with his band at two major UK arenas next year. Campaigners are now urging these venues to cancel the upcoming concerts in light of the accusations.