Gracelisa Akers, a former bartender in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has detailed an encounter with actor and musician Jared Leto in April 2011, alleging he exhibited aggressive behavior and persistently pursued her after she rejected his advances. Akers, then 25, was working at The Orbit Room when Leto's band, 30 Seconds to Mars, performed.
Akers told Page Six that Leto, now 54, initially sent an associate to invite her to a dressing room party. Upon her arrival, she stated that Leto immediately focused on her, making it clear he was seeking a romantic encounter, which she was not offering. She described him as being "handsy," touching her hair, waist, and hips, and attempting to hold her hand, despite her attempts to rebuff him.
When Akers prepared to leave, Leto followed her outside and allegedly cornered her as she was getting into her car. She recounted him saying, "you're never going to see me again, let's just f–k Denny's and go eat on the tour bus." Akers, who is 5 feet tall, stated that while Leto was not physically violent, she felt uncomfortable and insisted on leaving. Leto, who is approximately 5 feet 9 inches, was reportedly irritated by her refusal.
Following the encounter, Akers claims Leto "bombarded" her with text messages, some sent as late as 3 or 4 a.m., urging her to return. She also reported receiving a text from him the following morning suggesting breakfast. Akers deleted the messages but retained Leto's contact information, which has been verified.
Approximately two months later, Akers received another text from Leto containing a selfie. In the image, he was reportedly wearing a towel around his waist, and the caption included a hotel room number and the message, "hurry up, I'm waiting." Akers responded by informing him he had the wrong person and was in Grand Rapids. She expressed concern that another individual might have accepted his invitation.
Akers, now 41 and a salon owner and mother of two, stated that while she was not physically harmed, Leto's unwillingness to accept "no" demonstrated a pattern of aggressive behavior and entitlement. Her account emerges amid similar allegations from several other women.
These recent claims include accusations of criminal sexual conduct, with some women alleging Leto made advances or engaged in sexual activity with them when they were teenagers, while he was in his 30s and 40s. Leto has vehemently denied these allegations, issuing a statement that reads, "I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false."
Reports indicate Leto has hired attorney Alex Spiro, a move one legal source suggested indicates he anticipates legal exposure. Some sources speculate that Leto may have settled with other accusers to prevent them from speaking out.
Leto, who won an Academy Award for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club" in 2014, has a history of controversial behavior. He previously admitted to sending used condoms and sex toys to his "Suicide Squad" co-stars, explaining it as a method to create an "element of surprise, spontaneity." He has also been romantically linked to several public figures, including Cameron Diaz and, most recently, model Valery Kaufman until 2022.