Current:Home > MyJonathan Majors cries while accepting Perseverance Award months after assault conviction-InfoLens
Jonathan Majors cries while accepting Perseverance Award months after assault conviction
View Date:2024-12-23 18:20:53
Jonathan Majors broke down in tears while emotionally accepting an award on Friday, six months after he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
The former Marvel star, 34, received the Perseverance Award at the Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards and was seen wiping away tears as he took the stage, according to a video shared on X by The Hollywood Reporter writer Chris Gardner.
"I reckon folks want to know about the last year," he said. "As a Black man in the criminal justice system, I felt anger, I felt sadness, hurt, surprise."
Majors continued that when he was initially arrested last year, he felt like "a little scared, weak boy" and knew the situation "was bad," despite the "evidence that was in my favor," because of "who I was, and who I am."
"This is what happens to Black people all too often," he said. "Guilt or innocence often have little to do with the outcome. That's a harsh reality I learned."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The "Creed III" actor was arrested in New York in March 2023 and accused of assaulting his girlfriend Grace Jabbari in the back of a car. In December, he was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment, but acquitted of intentional assault and aggravated harassment. Majors had pleaded not guilty.
Jonathan Majors'motion to dismiss assault, harassment conviction rejected by judge
Marvel confirmed it dropped Majors from his role as Kang the Conqueror, the supervillain who was expected to return in the studio's next "Avengers" film, after his conviction. Majors was sentenced to a 52-week domestic violence intervention program, but avoided jail time.
In April, a judge denied Majors' motion to dismiss his conviction. His defense lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, told USA TODAY at the time he was "disappointed by the outcome of the motion" but "upholds respect for the process."
Hollywood Unlocked described the Perseverance Award as an honor given to a person who "has shown that no matter what adversity they face, they will continue to aspire to inspire."
Jonathan Majorsbreaks silence in interview: 'One of the biggest mistakes of my life'
In his speech, Majors said he has had to "embody" the word perseverance "more than I wished or wanted to." He also said Black men are "propped up as either superheroes or supervillains," and he has realized he is neither.
"I'm imperfect," he said. "I have shortcomings. I acknowledge them."
Jonathan Majors thanks Meagan Good in acceptance speech: 'I love you'
Majors posed on the red carpet at the awards ceremony with his girlfriend, Meagan Good. He thanked "the women in my life," including Good, during his on-stage remarks.
"I love you beyond all limit, with all my strength, with all my heart, I love you," a tearful Majors told Good. "You done carried me so, so, so, so many nights."
The "Lovecraft Country" star also thanked his mom, remembering that she stood behind him when his guilty verdict was read and told him, "It's okay, son."
Just ahead of the awards ceremony, Variety and Deadline reported that Majors has booked his first movie role since his assault conviction in "Merciless," a revenge thriller set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve's brother, Martin Villeneuve.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
veryGood! (862)
Related
- Watch as dust storm that caused 20-car pileup whips through central California
- Travis Barker Makes Cameo in Son Landon's TikTok After Rushing Home From Blink-182 Tour
- Illinois School Districts Vie for Clean School Bus Funds
- Fierce storm in southern Brazil kills at least 21 people and displaces more than 1,600
- AP Top 25: Oregon remains No. 1 as Big Ten grabs 4 of top 5 spots; Georgia, Miami out of top 10
- Pier collapses into lake on Wisconsin college campus, 1 hospitalized, 20 others slightly injured
- Design approved for memorial to the victims and survivors of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting
- Massachusetts teen dies after 'One Chip Challenge,' social media fad involving spicy food
- Chipotle unveils cilantro-scented soap, 'water' cup candles in humorous holiday gift line
- Saudi Arabia and Russia move to extend oil cuts could drive up gas prices
Ranking
- Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier
- Patriots' Jack Jones reaches deal with prosecutors to drop weapons charges
- TikTok’s Irish data center up and running as European privacy project gets under way
- Burning Man exodus operations begin as driving ban is lifted, organizers say
- Fantasy football buy low, sell high: 10 trade targets for Week 11
- Former SS guard, 98, charged as accessory to murder at Nazi concentration camp
- Injured pickup truck driver rescued after 5 days trapped at bottom of 100-foot ravine in California
- Inflation is easing and a risk of recession is fading. Why are Americans still stressed?
Recommendation
-
Amazon's 'Cross' almost gets James Patterson detective right: Review
-
Governor announces record investment to expand access to high-speed internet in Kentucky
-
Mohamed Al Fayed, famed businessman and critic of crash that killed his son and Princess Diana, dies at 94
-
61 indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges connected to ‘Stop Cop City’ movement
-
Quincy Jones' Cause of Death Revealed
-
University of Arkansas gets $2.5 million grant to study exercise and aging
-
Biden to nominate former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel
-
Biden nominates former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to serve as ambassador to Israel