Irish star: ‘I don’t know many actors who don’t have a story about him’
AN IRISH comedian has revealed that she doesn’t know many actors of her generation who “don’t have a Kevin Spacey” story.
Aisling Bea weighed in on the controversy after Spacey released a statement in which he apologised for any “inappropriate drunken behaviour” with a 14-yearold in 1986.
“I don’t know many actors from my era of drama school graduates who don’t have a Kevin Spacey story,” Bea wrote on Twitter.
The comedian, who has appeared on programmes such as ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’ and ‘Never Mind the Buzzocks’, added: “The surprise is the lack of surprise.”
She was asked to elaborate on whether she was talking about allegations like those against Spacey, or stories specifically about Spacey.
“Specifically,” Bea replied.
Cliona Sadlier, executive director of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, said that Spacey’s sexual orientation was “irrelevant” in relation to the allegation of sexual assault.
“It’s straightforward, a child who is 14 should not be considered sexually available, he was not sexually available and you can see from his response that it has really stayed with him.”
“There is a power dynamic there as well. We should focus on their actions and not their characteristics,” Ms Sadlier added.
Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty Ireland, also slammed Spacey’s apparent attempt to use his sexual orientation to deflect from the allegation as “appallingly cynical”.
Mr O’Gorman also said that Spacey’s statement suggests there could be a “pattern” of behaviour
“There are elements of Kevin Spacey’s statement where he appears to acknowledge that the allegation is credible,” he told RTÉ’s ‘News at One’ programme.
“First of all, what I feel that is rather inexcusable is he seems to somehow refute it by suggesting it was entirely drunken, inappropriate behaviour.
“Alcohol is not an excuse for either sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault anybody, let alone a 14-year-old child.
“But then he goes on to, I think very disingenuously conflate a number of issues. First of all in the second part of the statement, he announces that he now lives as a gay man and it’s difficult to understand how based on any approach with any integrity he connects these two things,” Mr O’Gorman said.
“Kevin Spacey’s sexual orientation has nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not he sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually assault a child, those are two separate issues.
“It’s an appallingly cynical move if, as it appears is the case he’s seeking to use this grand announcement as some way of deflecting away from the serious allegation he is facing.”
Actor and writer Louise Brealey said “trying to hide behind coming out and offering drunkenness as an excuse for jumping on a child shows breathtakingly arrogance.”
“The psychology of living in the closet was dark, cruel and self-punishing,” wrote ‘Vanity Fair’ film critic Richard Lawson.
“That Spacey has dwelt in that for years is sad. But 14 is 14,” Lawson tweeted.
“The distance we’ve had to walk to get away from the notion that we’re all paedophiles is significant ... How dare you implicate us all in this.”