Jonathan Majors has recently been going on a press tour to promote the release of his new film “Magazine Dreams.” After being arrested for inflicting injuries on his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabari, two years ago, Majors was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment violation in December 2023. His recent redemption press tour has sparked mixed feelings from the public; some believe he is entitled to a second chance, while others refuse to welcome him with open arms. Despite the lack of acknowledgment and accountability for his actions, the open embrace Majors is receiving from some people affirms a culture that enables abusers.
Lack of Accountability from Majors
In his first interview after the conviction, he sat down with ABC and expressed that he has never struck a woman and took no accountability for his actions. Throughout his current press tour run, he has refused to acknowledge the harm he inflicted on his ex-girlfriend or even address abuse allegations from previous romantic partners. A recent Rolling Stone article unearthed damning audio that affirmed Majors did, in fact, physically assault his ex-girlfriend. It also reminded the public that two of his previous romantic partners did come forward detailing his pattern of abuse, but their testimonies were barred from his trial proceedings.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, he stated that he could not answer or discuss any questions related to the recording for legal reasons. Despite not acknowledging his abusive behavior, Majors claims that the last two years have allowed him to reflect deeply, and he is a changed man. In most of his press tour interviews, he chooses to invoke religion in his responses regarding the abuse. On the Sherri Shepherd Show, he professed that God has a greater plan for why he went through trials and tribulations. Majors is not afraid to show emotion and cry in front of an audience, making him seem trustworthy and apologetic.
His failure to address the harm he caused, while still expecting the public to trust that he deserves redemption, mirrors the reality of abusers who continue to thrive in the entertainment industry. Majors has been accepted by prominent Black women in the industry, serving as a reminder that women are also enablers of abuse.
Women Enabling Majors’ Abuse
Majors’ high-profile relationship with actress, Meagan Good, sparked a lot of public opinion, with many believing they were only together to rehabilitate his image. The timing of the start of their relationship, which was during Majors assault case, seemed very suspicious to the public. Some claimed it was a PR strategy, and they would shortly break up. Despite this, Meagan was present throughout Majors’ court proceedings, including the ABC interview he did after the conviction. During this interview, Majors claimed that he had finally found his Coretta Scott King, a reference to an audio where he scolded his ex-girlfriend for not being the woman he needed.
The couple announced their engagement in November 2024 and, as of recent, got married privately after the new audio released by Rolling Stone. This affirmed to some people that their relationship is meant to rehabilitate Majors’ career in the face of public scandal. Others are confused as to why Meagan would choose to destroy her public image for the sake of an abuser. Even Majors admitted during his Breakfast Club interview that Meagan lost a lot of work opportunities due to her proximity to him, but that didn’t stop her from dating him. She doesn’t care what people have to say and is choosing to stick beside an abuser despite any public scrutiny.
Sherri Shepherd also openly embraced Majors on her show while he was promoting the release of his film, “Magazine Dreams.” She gushed over his performance in the movie and broke into tears while affirming how Majors’ is a great role model for his son. Sherrii acknowledged his recent marriage and affirmed the pivotal role Black women have played in rehabilitating Majors’ career. She specifically mentioned how Iyanla Vanzant embraced him during the Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards last year. Majors received a Perseverance Award at the event and broke down into an ugly cry while reciting his speech and showing appreciation to Meagan, who was also in tears. Iyanla affirmed Majors, gave him a prolonged hug, and even wiped the tears and snot off his face. These actions affirm women’s role in enabling abusers and furthering abuse culture.
Culture of Enabling Abusers
Abusers continue to thrive in our current culture due to the normalization of patriarchal violence. Patriarchy, the systemic belief that men are entitled to power over women, breeds sexism, rape culture, and violence against women. It becomes even more difficult to hold abusers accountable when they are public figures such as artists. Not only do they have more access to financial resources, but their celebrity status makes them idols. In the case of Majors’ where the artist is talented in their craft, the public justifies their continual support by separating the art from the artist.
There is a clear pattern when it comes to the public desensitization of abuse. Celebrities such as Chris Brown, Tory Lanez, and Mike Tyson still receive massive public support despite being known abusers or having multiple assault and harassment claims. And while people do deserve second chances, how can rehabilitation be intentional if there is a lack of acknowledgment, accountability, and harm reduction based on the impacted victims? While Majors ability to cry on queue and conveniently invoke religion is charming to some of the public, not everyone is convinced.
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