Jared Leto's "Mars Island" wellness retreat, held on a private Croatian island in August 2020, has resurfaced in public discussion, drawing comparisons to a cult years before the actor faced sexual assault allegations. The retreat was for members of his band Thirty Seconds to Mars' fanbase, known as The Echelon.
Attendees at the alcohol-free event reportedly engaged in activities like swimming, sunbathing, and yoga, while celebrating their admiration for Leto and his band. However, accounts published by Air Mail in 2025, which detailed allegations of sexual improprieties against Leto by nine women, described the event differently. The report suggested mostly female attendees "meditated, chanted and lounged barefoot in caftans alongside Leto."
Despite the band referring to the event as a "spiritual retreat," its atmosphere led to widespread comparisons to a cult. Speculation intensified after Leto was photographed standing on a cliff with his arms raised, with fans below him also with outstretched arms. Other social media images depicted fans in white attire sitting on the floor listening to Leto speak. A 2019 tweet from Thirty Seconds to Mars, accompanying a photo from the event, stated, "Yes, this is a cult" with the hashtag #MarsIsland. Both Leto and his fans were seen wearing white during the three-day immersion, which reportedly cost over $6,499 to attend.
Prior to the Mars Island event, Thirty Seconds to Mars also hosted "Camp Mars" in Malibu, California, starting in 2015. This adults-only fan retreat featured campfires, archery, hiking, and music, culminating in nightly "Church of Mars" concerts. The final Camp Mars event took place in 2019. While a Mars Island event was planned for 2022, it appears not to have materialized.
The band has seemingly leaned into the "cult" narrative, with reports indicating they played on journalists' descriptions of their "cult following." Leto himself was photographed wearing a shirt with "This is a Cult" printed on the back, seemingly from the Mars Island event.
Interest in the Mars events and the "cult" surrounding Leto's fandom has surged following new accusations detailed in a BBC documentary, "Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret." In the documentary, four women, using pseudonyms, accuse the actor of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers. Leto has categorically denied these allegations, stating in a statement, "I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life."
A resurfaced 2016 interview also brought attention to Leto's past behavior, where he admitted to sending used condoms and anal beads to co-stars, including Margot Robbie and Will Smith, as part of his method acting for the role of the Joker. He explained his actions were intended to "create a dynamic," "create an element of surprise, spontaneity," and "break down any walls."