Jonathan Majors gave his first interview Monday since he was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment in an incident involving his then-partner Grace Jabbari. 

In an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, Majors said he was “shocked at the verdict,” which carries a sentence of up to one year in jail. He also pressed back on his own culpability in the injuries suffered by Jabbari. 

Asked several times by ABC News Live “Prime” anchor Linsey Davis about Jabbari’s injuries, Majors’ at first said that “I wish that I knew” how the injuries were caused.

Then pressed as to whether he was responsible for the injuries Majors said: “I shouldn’t have been in the car. I shouldn’t have stepped out of the relationship. I shouldn’t have been in the relationship,” he said. “If I’m not in the car, none of this is happening.” 

Asked again if he was saying he was responsible for that, but none of her injuries, he said: “Can’t say that. None of her injuries.”

The charges stem from an incident on March 25, 2023 when Majors was riding in a car with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. During her testimony, Jabbari said she saw a text on Majors’ phone that read: “Oh how I wish to be kissing you” and grabbed the phone from Majors, who she said pried her finger from the phone, grabbed her arm and right hand, twisted her forearm and struck her head to get the phone away from her. She testified that he later threw her back into the car, which relates to the harassment violation.

After a two-week jury trial in December, the actor was found guilty of reckless assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor, and of harassment in the second degree, which is a violation. Asked whether he was reckless in his actions, Majors said Monday that he was “reckless with her heart. Not with her body.” He also said that he had never hit a woman and had never been a participant in domestic abuse in any of his relationships.

“I’ve witnessed it, but never participated,” he said.

He added that he had experienced suicidal ideations since childhood, but had since been getting the help to make sure that has not continued. Majors’ texts to Jabbari, expressing suicidal ideations during tumultuous periods in their relationship, had been shown in court as evidence of emotional abuse.

Majors also brought up his own injuries he said he had endured as part of the interaction in the car, alongside photos including a scratch on his neck, as well as the fact that Jabbari had chased him down the street after the altercation in the car, pointing to the racial factor involved had he, a Black man, been chasing her, a white woman.

The actor, who teared up at various points in the interview, said he was “shocked at the verdict.” 

“I was absolutely shocked and afraid,” he said. “How is that possible? Based off the evidence, based off the prosecution’s evidence, let alone our evidence.” 

Majors was also asked about the audio recording played in court, in which the actor could be heard saying he was a “great man” and urged Jabbari to be more like Michelle Obama and Coretta Scott King. 

“It was me trying to give an analogy of what it is I’m aspiring to be. These great men, Martin, President Obama,” Majors said. “I need her, in that case, Grace, to make the same sacrifices I am making.”

He later called his current partner, Meagan Good, who had been there throughout the trial and GMA noted was also present for this interview, “an angel” and said “She’s held me down like a Coretta.”

As for why he gave the interview now, Majors said “I felt like it was time.” 

“A lot has happened,” Majors said. “In my personal life, in my career in the culture. It’s about responsibility and coming forward and being brave and giving my part of the story.”

However, the interview takes place ahead of Majors’ sentencing on Feb. 6 and attorneys say that it’s highly unusual to make such a public statement between conviction and sentencing for fear of negatively influencing the judge’s decision. The assault charge, the most serious charge he was convicted of, carries the maximum sentence of up to one year in jail, but many legal experts had previously said they do not believe Majors will spend time behind bars and that he will likely appeal the conviction.

“The Judge has a wide variety of tools at his disposal at sentencing – including anger management, community service, other programming, or jail time. If the Defendant says anything to piss off the judge, or insults the integrity of the judicial system, I could easily see the Judge giving him a taste of jail,” said Manhattan-based criminal defense attorney Cary London.

“From a purely legal standpoint, it would be more wise to wait to give a public statement until after sentencing. But Majors is likely balancing other factors such as public relations and his future career opportunities,” said Kate Mangels, partner at Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP.

Shortly after the verdict was delivered, Disney’s Marvel Studios dropped the actor as Kang the Conqueror from its upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films. This also makes the placement of the interview on the Disney-owned ABC News, Majors’ first since the trial, highly unusual.

A “For your Consideration ad” for Creed III, which starred Majors, alongside Michael B. Jordan, played during a commercial break ahead of the interview. Majors was not shown in the ad. 

Asked whether he believed he’d work in Hollywood again, Majors laughed saying, “Yeah. I do. I pray I do.” 

The initial interview ran on Good Morning America early Monday. Additional segments will run on GMA3, with an extended version set to stream on Davis’ ABC News Live program Prime later Monday. IMPACT x Nightline will also have a half-hour special featuring more unaired segments on Jan. 11, exclusive to Hulu.