Actor Jonathan Majors, convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and currently serving a sentence that includes attending a 52-week domestic violence intervention program, received the “Perseverance Award” at the Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards on Friday, sparking widespread controversy.
Majors, known for his roles in Marvel films, suggested in his 17-minute acceptance speech that his race played a role in his conviction. He expressed anger, sadness, and hurt, claiming that the outcome was unfair because of his race and background. However, critics have pointed out that the prosecutor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, is also Black.
The case involved a March 2023 incident in which Majors allegedly assaulted his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari after she discovered a text from another woman on his phone. Surveillance video showed part of the altercation. Majors was convicted by a diverse Manhattan jury, with four of the six jurors being people of color.
Majors’ team had previously claimed racial bias during the trial, and his attorney argued in closing statements that Majors’ fear of being unfairly treated by the criminal justice system as a Black man in America came true. However, the prosecutor’s office stated that the evidence showed a cycle of psychological and emotional abuse, and escalating patterns of coercion, which is common in many intimate partner violence cases.
Despite the controversy, Majors is set to lead a new film project titled “Merciless,” his first since the conviction. The Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards, a relatively unknown organization, claimed that the Perseverance Award is given to an individual who has shown that no matter what adversity they face, they will continue to aspire to inspire.
