Jared Leto Says Stories About His Gifts While Playing Joker Were Exaggerated

Remember way back when Jared Leto was first getting settling into a new interpretation of the Joker during Suicide Squad? Jared Leto was reportedly leaning a little hard into making the role his own, and it didn’t take long before rumors started. Reportedly, Leto sent his castmates “gifts” but not gifts you’d want or expect to get at work. The theoretical Jared Leto Joker gifts became a thing of legend, with distraught whispers of the time the guy from 30 Seconds to Mars gave Margot Robbie a used condom. It’s been a few years since Suicide Squad, and apparently that’s how long it takes to start doing some image rehab. 

Supposedly the Gifts Were Jokes

If you have to go on record stating that you did not send used condoms to your co-workers, something has gone awry. In a recent interview, Leto claims that the stories about his little gifts were exaggerated, but the way he says it doesn’t exactly inspire a ton of comfort. About Margot Robbie, Leto says “the only gifts I ever gave Margot were cupcakes. I think I gave her a mouse.” Despite the claim and immediate contradiction there, that’s not so bad. Sure, I’d be confused if a coworker gave me a small rodent, but that’s not the worst way to clock in. 

Then Leto gets a bit more vague, saying “some of the other guys got gifts that you’d get as a joke at a party,” but that doesn’t actually say anything. Jared Leto said on camera that he gave someone anal beads and a used condom, and there’s definitely a party out there where someone would be thrilled to get that. That party definitely has 30 Seconds to Mars music videos playing on a projector in a small dark room. 

Image via Universal Interscope Virgin EMI Immortal

Why Refute the Rumors Now?

Jared Leto leans pretty hard into his roles. He’s plucked his own hair to make himself look bald. He allegedly sent a bunch of seedy gifts to co-stars. He even lost a bunch of weight to look like he was dying while playing Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club because if you’re going to have a movie with trans tragedy porn in it, it needs to look real. 

Now, Leto is gearing up for his role in House of Gucci, and he probably doesn’t want the reputation and the controversy he built playing Joker to follow him into House of Gucci. Back in 2016, stories about how method Leto probably made some people feel a little better about getting another Joker so soon after Heath Ledger passed. The stories served their purpose,  backfired a little, and now whether the stories are true or not, he’s trying to get rid of them by saying it was all a joke. Also, he’s acting beside Lady Gaga, and if there’s anyone who’d go all in one-upping weird gifts, it feels like it’d be her.

What do you think the real story is behind the Jared Leto Joker gifts? Did he actually give someone anal beads, or was this just another killing joke? Tell us in the comments below! 

Featured image via Warner Bros.

Jessica Kanzler is a freelance writer and editor who lives with her wife and cats. Jessica has bad taste in tv and an MA in Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media studies. Talk to her about Frasier on Twitter @Jessicaakanzler