Spacey hit by new sexual harassment allegations in UK

LONDON: Kevin Spacey faced fresh allegations of sexual harassment in Britain on Thursday, with an ex-employee accusing his old theatre of turning a blind eye to the Hollywood star’s misconduct.

Former workers at The Old Vic, where the US actor ruled the roost as its artistic director from 2003 to 2015, told The Guardian newspaper that the London theatre ignored allegations of groping and inappropriate sexual behaviour.

“We were all involved in keeping it quiet. I witnessed him groping men many times in all sorts of different situations,” one said, on condition of anonymity.

The two-time Oscar winner “was taking advantage of the fact that he is this great icon.

“He touched men on the crotch. Doing it really fast so they couldn’t get out of the way.

“The thing that really upsets me is the hypocrisy of places like The Old Vic that pretend now that they didn’t know.”

Rebecca Gooden, an intern at the theatre in 2010, said there were regular stories about Spacey’s behaviour.

She told The Guardian it was a “running joke” that “pretty” young men were not hired to work in theatre administration.

“I was informed that I was not allowed to talk about it outside the theatre. I am honestly sickened that the theatre has chosen to plead ignorance,” she said.

Spacey became embroiled in Hollywood’s widening sexual misconduct scandal when he apologised this week over accusations he made a sexual advance on a 14-year-old actor in the 1980s.

The Old Vic said it was “not currently in a position to comment on specifics of what may have taken place in the past”.

The theatre said it had set up an email address where “anyone who has concerns about the inappropriate behaviour of Kevin Spacey at The Old Vic” could come forward.

“Since we set up this confidential line of communication, we are already seeing the great benefits of the new policy of openness and the safe sharing of information,” a spokeswoman told AFP. “We stand by, support and strongly encourage the industry-wide culture shift that is under way.”

Meanwhile, Spacey is seeking unspecified treatment, according to his representatives, following allegations of sexual misconduct that have forced a halt in production of his Netflix show “House of Cards” and a social media backlash. — AFP