BBC documentary on Jared Leto's alleged sexual misconduct tests Hollywood's MeToo stance

A BBC documentary released on Wednesday examined allegations of criminal sexual conduct involving actor Jared Leto. The film, titled Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret, presented testimonies from ten women, including four who accused Leto of illegal behavior. Leto issued a statement denying the claims, saying he has never sexually assaulted anyone and that the allegations are "absolutely and categorically false."

Mike Radford, the documentary’s executive producer, said the case could serve as an indicator of the entertainment industry’s position on the MeToo movement, noting that the industry's reaction will reveal how it handles serious accusations against high-profile figures. Producer Jessica Sartenaer added that the allegations have circulated online for years, with the BBC counting 120 separate accusations.

The documentary also featured two pseudonymous accounts: one woman described a sexual encounter with Leto at age 17 in 2006, which would be considered statutory rape under California law, and another alleged assault in Las Vegas in 2002. The production team gave Leto’s representatives more than two weeks to comment, but no response was received before the film’s release.

The film’s release coincided with Leto’s limited participation in recent promotional activities for his film projects, though his band Thirty Seconds to Mars remains scheduled for a tour next year. The documentary is being distributed internationally by BBC Studios.