Developments regarding the recent arrest of Marvel actor Jonathan Majors result in the US Army suspending his participation in its ad campaign. While some posts indicate that the actor is already cancelled or kicked out of the campaign, marketing officer Laura DeFrancisco states that their action is dictated by prudence guided by the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”.
Majors’ defence lawyer Priya Chaudhry has already stated that their team is working on putting together solid evidence that the actor is innocent. The lawyer cited evidence of witness testimonies, video of the alleged assault and written documents recanting the two alleged assaults.
While there are these systematic proceedings in court, the longer this takes, the deeper it will affect the actor’s name in the industry.
US Army Commercial starring Jonathan Majors Paused After Actor’s Arrest
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In an article from Army Times, Laura DeFrancisco from the Army Enterprise Marketing Office stated:
The U.S. Army is aware of the arrest of Jonathan Majors and we are deeply concerned by the allegations surrounding his arrest. While Mr. Majors is innocent until proven guilty, prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allegations is complete.
Already, Jonathan Majors is becoming more and more on the receiving end of negative social media perceptions. People are ready to judge his actions, and there are those who are already convinced he is absolutely guilty. Despite the news bearing a defence that will prove his innocence, people still easily conclude that he indeed is guilty of assault.
While there are also followers on Twitter who state that there needs to be patience in letting these proceedings push through and run their course, a good number of commenters are already quick to judge.
This statement from the US Army, even though it is borne out of caution, does paint further doubt towards Majors’s name. Readers are quick to point out that if he were truly innocent, then the current projects he is attached to should not have been pulled out, whether they be government organisations or not.
However, that is precisely what the suspension should be interpreted as, suspending the opinion until the case has finally come to conclusion.
There are even comments that compare Majors’ treatment to what a fellow comic book actor has gone through. People are pointing out that Majors is already taking on consequences for alleged actions without final conclusion. Meanwhile, Ezra Miller of the DC universe has had several legal battles where he has even pleaded guilty yet still has projects pushing through to his name.
Never mind that the two actors belong to two different studios, and their circumstances are distinctly different. They are subject to the opinion of the same public. Especially the online public.
It is in everyone’s interest that this issue concerning Jonathan Majors’ reputation be resolved as soon as possible. Perhaps people also need to notice that even Marvel Studios has not officially made any statement about the involvement of Majors.
Neither can we take it against the US Army that they made this move that cast doubt leading many of the public to conclude that Majors was at fault prior to the court’s decision. As the officer has stated, they are taking the side of prudence. They are not a private company but a government organisation responsible for the nation’s safety and security, after all.
Following the steps that Majors’ defence lawyer has taken, the actor has been released from custody and is set to appear in court in May. Until then, there is, likely, what will be ‘public persecution’ for the actor if things are not handled anticipatively. Whether he is guilty or innocent, an accused is still just an accused.
Jonathan Majors TV Spot for The US Army Has Been Cancelled
Credit: HBO
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The U.S. Army’s commercial obviously spent a lot on the production of the TV spot titled “Be All You Can Be” featuring Majors. The TV spot was made by Team DDB and directed by Rupert Sanders, who is known for films like Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Ghost in the Shell (2017), and he’s set to direct a reboot of The Crow. The TV Spot just released a week ago. It was also expected to run during the NCAA March Madness. Naturally, a huge investment is on the line for the US Army.
Another company that will be significantly affected by the proceedings will, of course, be Marvel Studios. Jonathan Majors is cast as the conglomerate’s next Big Bad of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Thanos. Phases 5 and 6 will heavily feature Majors’ portrayal of the new villain as introduced in Loki and recently seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He is already set to return in Loki Season 2, which has concluded filming and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The actor recently also starred in Creed III, which stars Michael B. Jordan.
We will keep you posted on the latest with regards to this bit of news. In the meantime, what do you think about the development where the U.S. Army has pulled out Jonathan Majors in their newest Ad campaign? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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