Rachel Lutack October 30th, 2017 - 12:21 PM
Actor Anthony Rapp has released a statement with Buzzfeed accusing Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey of sexual assault when he was only 14-years-old. The two actors worked together in 1986 on various Broadway shows, and according to Rapp, Spacey made a sexual advance toward him that resulted in Spacey picking him up – like a husband would do to his newlywed wife – and laying him down on a bed. Spacey allegedly crawled on top of him and although he was confused, Rapp understood that the actor was “trying to get with him sexually.” Spacey was 26-years-old at the time.
After Buzzfeed reported Rapp’s story on Sunday, Spacey responded on social media, releasing an apologetic statement via Twitter. In the tweet, Spacey says he is “beyond horrified to hear [Rapp’s] story,” but deflects most of the blame for the alleged incident, saying he doesn’t remember it if it did in fact happen. He goes on to address his sexuality in the rest of the statement. It can be read in its entirety below:
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
Since releasing his “apology,” Hollywood has pretty unanimously come to Rapp’s defense and has condemned Spacey for his flagrant and indelicate side-stepping from the real issue in order to come out as gay to the public. Another, more active response, sees Spacey’s hit Netflix drama, House of Cards, coming to an end after season 6. It is likely that this response will also ricochet into his film career and his standing within the entire industry.
Nope to Kevin Spacey’s statement. Nope. There’s no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child. — Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017
I’m not interested in Kevin Spacey being gay. I’m curious as to why we’re conflating sexuality w/ the molestation of a minor. Stay on topic
— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) October 30, 2017
Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017
