Inside Jared Leto's "Cult": The Thirty Seconds to Mars Echelon

He calls his fans a cult – and they wear it like a badge. Jared Leto, an Oscar-winning actor turned rock frontman, has built a fanbase so devout that it’s drawn comparisons to a religious cult. Clad in white robes on a private island, Leto addressed hundreds of followers in scenes eerily reminiscent of a spiritual retreat, even captioning one 2019 photo, “Yes, this is a cult.” In truth, these fans call themselves The Echelon, a tight-knit community around Leto’s band Thirty Seconds to Mars – a group the band itself once cheerfully described as “a cult” from early on . How did a Hollywood star’s rock band inspire such fervent, cult-like devotion? This video goes behind the sensational headlines and viral images to find out. Today, we delve into Thirty Seconds to Mars’ unusual journey from its formation in 1998 to the creation of an obsessive fan community. We explore the band’s early days and the rise of the Echelon fan culture, including the symbolic slogans and cult imagery (like the now-infamous “Yes, this is a cult” tagline) that Leto and his brother Shannon wove into their music and merch You’ll see how these immersive events and rituals fueled the “cult” reputation, and hear how media coverage amplified the mystique (with headlines dubbing Leto a real-life cult leader). We also compare the Echelon’s structure and us-vs-them mentality with bona fide cults, asking where the line blurs between an ardent fan community and a cult of personality. Finally, the film reveals Jared Leto’s response to the cult allegations – including his insistence that it’s all an inside joke – and invites you to decide just how far is too far when fandom turns fanatic. Join us as we uncover the truth behind the hype, exposing the fine line between passionate fandom and the cult of Mars. Chapters 0:00 Introduction – A shocking look at Jared Leto’s band and its cult-like fanbase 3:00 Band Formation & Early Years – From Hollywood actor to rock frontman: how Thirty Seconds to Mars began 8:00 Rise of the Echelon – The emergence of an intense fan community and its unique culture 14:00 "Yes, This Is a Cult" Slogan & Symbolism – The band’s use of cult-like imagery, slogans, and insider language 20:00 Camp Mars Fan Retreats – Summer camp gatherings that brought fans closer and blurred fan-idol boundaries 27:00 Mars Island Controversy – Inside the 2019 Croatian island retreat that sparked headlines of a “rock cult” kqed.org 34:00 Media Coverage & Public Reaction – How press and social media responded to Thirty Seconds to Mars’ cult reputation 40:00 Cult vs. Fandom – Comparing the Echelon’s devotion and structure to actual cults, and the psychology of fanatical loyalty 46:00 Jared Leto’s Response & Aftermath – Leto’s own explanation of the “cult” label, the band’s stance, and closing thoughts on the fine line between fan culture and cult culture DISCLAIMER: This video is for entertainment purposes only. It is not meant to malign anyone from any group, person, entity or organization. Erin presents many opinions, so please do your own research. Viewer discretion is advised.