Jared Leto Denies Sexual Assault and Misconduct Allegations in New BBC Documentary

Jared Leto has denied sexual assault and misconduct after four women made allegations about the Hollywood actor and singer in a new documentary released by the BBC.

In the documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret, four women described encounters between 2002 and 2016 when he was in his 30s or 40s. He is now 54.

In the documentary, one of the women said she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom when she was 17. Another said the Hollywood star threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19. A third said she had underage sex with the star in California when she was 17, which would be classified as statutory rape. A fourth said Leto made sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16.

Four others described "strange and often very sexual phone calls from Leto," the BBC said.

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, local time, Mr Leto denied the claims made in the documentary. "I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false," he said in a statement.

One of the women, Isabel, alleged she was sexually assaulted in a motel room when she was 17, while another accused him of having underage sex with her when she was 17.

Another accused Mr Leto of making repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16. She subsequently refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement that she received, the BBC investigation found.

Mr Leto is a prominent face in Hollywood, having starred in multiple films including Dallas Buyers Club and Suicide Squad.

But it is not the first time he has faced allegations about his conduct away from the camera. Last year, US outlet Air Mail reported the accounts of nine women who accused him of sexual impropriety, allegations he strenuously denied at the time.