The BBC has released its investigation today into the Hollywood actor and musician Jared Leto, uncovering further details about his alleged creepy exploits over several decades.
Another one who has been talked about by women, increasingly openly thanks to the internet, as predatory with a preference for very young girls. “Age is just a number,” right Jared? He allegedly said this to a fan who told him she was under age.
This is the Jared Leto who stank up House of Gucci with his dreadful, self-indulgent performance and last year held a spiritual retreat with his band on a secluded island off the coast of Croatia where he dressed in white robes, Jesus hair flailing, and led fans in silent processions through the forest, arms spread wide.
In June last year, journalist Elena Clavarino published her investigation into the multiple allegations made by women online that Leto had persued them when they were underage, some claiming actually criminal sexual behaviour went on including statutory rape. In the US, this refers to sex with someone under the age of consent.
Her reporting was picked up by multiple news organisations on both sides of the Atlantic, in Australia, all over Europe. She thought it had punched through and might actually bring some repurcussions for the actor.
But instead, the story gradually slipped down the search results until it was all but swamped by promotion for his latest Disney film, Tron: Ares. He went out and promoted it, untroubled, and many would have assumed this meant that the allegations were unfounded.
The behaviour detailed in the BBC investigation by Jessica Sartenaer, which was running at the same time as the above Air Mail piece, will be familiar to any casual observer of these creepy guy stories.
A 16-year-old model with a dead phone battery is sent to a non-existent after party by Leto’s assistant. When she gets to the hotel, he’s the only one there.
The introduction of sexual contact with no on-ramp, just a hand straight to a breast, grabbing her hand and placing it on his genitals, admiring a 14-year-old’s breasts with “nice rack” even after her mother steps in to prevent her daughter being taken back-stage by security.
Actually the girl who told this story, now a woman, cried as she remembered the shame she took away from that encounter. She was at a Thirty Seconds to Mars gig because she loved the music. She stopped going to concerts, stopped listening to music after that.
Again, there’ll be men hearing these details and thinking “oh come on, so he likes them young, it’s rock and roll”. To like them young is to like them compliant, defenseless, naive, unable to negotiate the power dynamic of star and fan.
To like them young is to get hard for an imbalance of power where you’re in charge and they just behave like furniture, there for your comfort. If you still think that’s a functional way to behave with other humans in 2026, I hope your BBC documentary is coming.
As well as the bravery of several women here who describe their experiences, some in the full glare of cameras and lights, waiving their annonymity, there is a crucial interview with a facilitator.
One man who calls himself Simon (not his real name) tells Sartenaer that he worked with Leto’s band for a decade and watched, day after day, as Leto texted the young fans he picked up at gigs, online, inviting them to the studio. They would arrive, sit down, he’d ignore them for a while to establish who was in charge here and then, when he felt like it, he’d take them to the bedroom next door.
Once he was done, they’d have to leave. One girl was picked up by her parents. Simon said the atmosphere afterwards was always chilly. One girl leaned over to kiss him for a photo and he pushed her away, Simon said. He didn’t want a photo witnessing anything sexual. That was behind closed doors only.
Simon is ashamed to have done nothing, always aware that his job was dependent on his boss, Leto. He talks about the unspoken rule in Hollywood that talent can do what they like, even now. They are pandered to, not challenged on their behaviour. It’s just not done.
There is also a storming interview with journalist hero Maureen Ryan, the author of Burn It Down, the most incredibly incendiary book about the system that has supported predators since the beginning.
These headlines aren’t single events, she says. They’re indicative of a system that needs more than change now. Hollywood and indeed all entertainment industries, need to start again. The headlines will just keep coming until this happens.
Jared Leto was approached for comment several times but made no response to the allegations in the film. And why would he? So far, just keeping quiet and waiting seems to have worked just fine for him.
The Air Mail article didn’t move the needle, but perhaps a BBC investigation carries enough weight to make the industry listen?
Tiime will tell. Go and watch the documentary, because the more people see it, the better informed we’ll all be when it comes to choosing our entertainment.
If you’re interested in stand-up comedy, narcissistic abuse or you’re just a sucker for a toxic love story that turns into an all-out thriller, I’d love you to…
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