As previously reported, actor Jonathan Majors recently found himself at the center of controversy for constantly using the name of Coretta Scott King, the late wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
During his recent interview where he talked about the guilty verdict in his domestic violence trial, Majors spoke about the viral audio recording of him telling his then-girlfriend Grace Jabari that he wanted her to be more like Michelle Obama or Coretta Scott King. While speaking on that, he also took the opportunity to express his gratitude towards his current girlfriend, Meagan Good, for her unwavering support during his legal battle. During his ABC news interview, Jonathan said Miss Good was his “Coretta.”
Of course, he faced tons of backlash for once again bringing up the late public figure. Now, in a statement to TMZ, Jonathan says, “My intention was to convey my utmost respect for Coretta Scott King, her achievements, and both her personal legacy and the one she shares with her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King.”
His latest remarks have sparked a reaction from
Bernice King, daughter of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.
King, the couple’s youngest daughter shared a photo of her mother on X on Tuesday a day after Jonathan Majors‘ interview aired.
She said, “My mother wasn’t a prop,” King, who leads The King Center in Atlanta, wrote in the social media post. “She was a peace advocate before she met my father and was instrumental in him speaking out against the Vietnam War. Please understand…my mama was a force.”
My mother wasn’t a prop.
She was a peace advocate before she met my father and was instrumental in him speaking out against the Vietnam War.
Please understand…my mama was a force.
Here’s what I wrote about her a few years ago: https://t.co/qdCj7K5vXD#CorettaScottKing pic.twitter.com/8vhKBFm6oJ
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 9, 2024
More On Jonathan Majors
As we previously reported, a jury found Majors, 34, guilty of two of the four counts he faced — misdemeanor assault and harassment — last month in a case stemming from a March 25, 2023, domestic dispute in New York City. Majors and Jabbari got into an altercation in the back of an SUV. In the exclusive interview with ABC News’ Linsey Davis on “Good Morning America,” Majors said he was “absolutely shocked” by the verdict.
“I was absolutely shocked and afraid,” he said. “I was standing there as the verdict came down and I said how is that possible, based off of the evidence-based off of the prosecution’s evidence, let alone our evidence?”
Majors says he plans to appeal. And as for returning to work in Hollywood, he says he hopes that will happen for him.
“I do. I pray I do,” he told Davis, saying he thinks he deserves a second chance. “But it’s God’s plan and God’s timing.”