A new BBC documentary has placed actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto under renewed public scrutiny after four women accused him of criminal sexual conduct over alleged incidents dating back more than two decades. The investigation, titled Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret, features interviews with 10 women, nine of whom have spoken publicly for the first time about their experiences.
The documentary examines allegations spanning from 2002 to 2016, when the women say they encountered Leto while he was in his 30s and 40s. According to the BBC, four of the women describe alleged conduct that, if proven, could amount to criminal offences. The broadcaster says it corroborated aspects of several accounts through messages, photographs and interviews with friends, relatives and former associates. Leto did not respond to their repeated requests for comment before publication, and the allegations remain unproven.
BBC Investigation Brings Multiple Allegations Together
The documentary centres on four women, identified by pseudonyms including Isabel, Alex, Clara and Etta, who each describe separate encounters with Leto when they were teenagers or young adults.
One woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom after meeting the actor in Las Vegas in 2002 when she was 17. Another claims she was threatened with sexual assault after being invited to what she believed was a group gathering before finding herself alone with Leto in a London hotel room at the age of 19.
A third woman alleges she had sexual intercourse with Leto in California when she was 17. She says the age of consent was discussed before the encounter, alleging that her concerns were dismissed. Under California law, sexual activity with someone below the age of consent may constitute statutory rape.
A fourth woman alleges she was 16 when Leto began making sexually explicit telephone calls to her after they met through a modelling agency. She also claims she later received a non-disclosure agreement, which she declined to sign. They mentioned it reviewed the agreement alongside supporting emails and text messages.
BBC Says It Corroborated Parts of the Women's Accounts
The documentary goes beyond first-hand testimony by presenting material that it says supports aspects of several women's accounts. Journalists reviewed photographs, text messages, emails and other contemporaneous evidence, while also speaking to friends and relatives who said the women had disclosed the alleged incidents to them at the time.
The programme also features interviews with two former members of Thirty Seconds to Mars' crew, who describe feeling uncomfortable about the age differences between Leto and some of the young women allegedly invited backstage or to locations where the band was staying or recording.
One former crew member alleged that staff were instructed to invite female models and fans to meet Leto during tours, while another claimed young women regularly visited properties where the band was working. The documentary presents these accounts as part of its wider investigation, noting that they provide additional context but do not constitute proof of the allegations against Leto.
Previous Allegations Had Already Emerged
The documentary follows earlier allegations that resurfaced in 2025 after Los Angeles DJ Allie Teilz publicly accused Leto of assaulting her when she was 17. Her claims prompted other women to come forward with similar allegations.
Separately, nine women accused Leto of sexual impropriety in an investigation published by Air Mail last year. Leto denied those allegations at the time.
They also report that it identified more than 120 allegations posted online over the years concerning Leto's alleged behaviour towards women. However, the broadcaster notes that online claims vary considerably and should not be treated as verified evidence.
Leto Has Not Responded to BBC's Allegations
According to the BBC, journalists repeatedly contacted Leto with detailed summaries of the allegations before the documentary was released but did not receive a response.
As of publication, no criminal charges have been announced in connection with the allegations featured in the documentary. The claims remain allegations, and it is important to note they have not been tested in court.
Leto, 54, has enjoyed a successful career across film and music, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014 and starring in films including Fight Club, Blade Runner 2049 and Suicide Squad. He is also the frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars, with the band scheduled to tour the UK and mainland Europe next year.
The release of Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret is likely to renew public discussion around the allegations that have circulated for years. Whether further responses or legal developments follow remains to be seen, but for now the documentary has brought renewed attention to claims that Leto has not publicly addressed in relation to the BBC's investigation.
