Shortly after the release of David Ayer's Suicide Squad in 2016, rumors began to do the rounds that Jared Leto (The Joker) had sent some of his costars a series of rather bizarre, somewhat inappropriate gifts, including a live rat, used condoms, and anal beads.
Since then, follow-up reports have indicated that these stories had been exaggerated, and Leto has now weighed-in to set the record straight.
While speaking to EW about his role in Ridley Scott's House of Gucci, the Academy Award-winner clarified that "there were no used condoms or other salacious presents," and claims that his previous comments on the matter - which seemed to back up initial reports - were made "in jest."
"Any of the very few gifts that were ever given were given with a spirit of fun and adventure and received with laughter, fun, and adventure," Leto explains. "It's all filmed! They filmed it all! People were dying. We were just having a goof."
"I'm playing a guy called the Joker, it's okay to play some jokes," he added. "Nothing ever crossed any lines, and it's not up to other people on the internet to create those lines. I'm an artist at the end of the day. If I do something risky and you don't like it, basically, you can kiss my ass."
Fair enough - though several of Leto's castmates seemed to confirm that at least some of those gifts did approach that line! That said, the likes of Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje did appear to see the funny side.
Leto returned for a short scene as The Joker for Zack Snyder's Justice League, but is not expected to reprise the role in the DCEU moving forward. House of Gucci hits theaters later this month.