Netflix drops Spacey from House of Cards
Actor accused of sex assaults and of creating ‘toxic’ workplace
LOS ANGELES — Netflix said that Kevin Spacey will no longer be a part of House of Cards and it’s cutting all other ties with the actor after a series of allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
“Netflix will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey,” the company said in a statement.
Netflix said it will work with the show’s production company MRC to evaluate whether it will continue without him.
Spacey, 58, was nominated for an Emmy Award for best actor in a drama during each of the show’s first five seasons, but never won. He played a ruthless politician who ascends to the presidency of the U.S. Co-star Robin Wright is also a central player on the show, and it could conceivably continue with a focus on her.
Production on the show had already been suspended last week.
Netflix said it also will refuse to release the film Gore, in which Spacey stars as the writer Gore Vidal and also acted as producer.
CNN reported that eight current or former House of Cards workers claim that Spacey made the production a “toxic” workplace and one ex-employee alleges the actor sexually assaulted him.
Spacey has not been arrested or charged with any crime. His publicist did not immediately return an email message late Friday night seeking comment. A publicist said last week that Spacey is “taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment.”
The Academy Award-winning actor became ensnared in Hollywood’s fast-growing sexual harassment crisis after actor Anthony Rapp alleged Spacey made sexual advances toward him in 1986, when Rapp was 14. Spacey has said he doesn’t remember the alleged encounter reported by BuzzFeed News last weekend but apologized if such “drunken behaviour” occurred.
The story spurred several others to come forward with similar allegations about Spacey.
London police are reportedly investigating Spacey for a 2008 sexual assault, British media reported Friday.
Police did not identify Spacey by name, but said the department’s child abuse and sexual offences unit is investigating the reported assault after it was referred to police last week.
Spacey is the latest high profile Hollywood figure to lose work and standing in a wave that began when dozens of sexual harassment allegations were reported last month against film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Weinstein is under investigation in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, London and New York for possible criminal cases after several women accused him of sexual assault or rape.