Wright denies having problems with former co-star Spacey
Robin Wright says she and her “House of Cards” colleagues were “surprised” and “saddened” by the sexual misconduct allegations against Kevin Spacey that led to his ousting from the show.
The actress — who now becomes the face of the Netflix series following Spacey’s firing — says she and her longtime costar didn’t have a relationship outside work, but she did not expound on whether she ever saw red flags regarding his alleged behavior.
“We were coworkers, really. We never socialized outside of work,” Wright said in a “Today” show interview with Savannah Guthrie that aired yesterday. “Respectful, professional relationship. He was so great with me and was never disrespectful to me. That’s my personal experience. That’s the only thing I feel that I have the right to talk about.”
Spacey, 58, was canned by Netflix in early November, less than a week after the first wave of allegations against the actor emerged.
He was first accused of misconduct in early October by actor Anthony Rapp, who claimed Spacey climbed on top of him and attempted to seduce him in bed in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. Spacey replied in a statement that he didn’t remember the encounter, but owed Rapp an apology if the allegations were true.
A subsequent report by CNN that week cited eight people who worked for “House of Cards” at some point who claimed Spacey made the show’s set a “toxic” environment through behavior that included inappropriate comments and nonconsensual touching.
Wright, who played Frank Underwood’s (Spacey) wife, Claire, on the show, says she was surprised by the scandal.
“I think we were all surprised, of course, and ultimately all saddened,” she told Guthrie. “We forged ahead and were so thankful that we were able to complete the series as planned.”
The actress, 52, says she hasn’t spoken to Spacey since his firing.
“Kevin and I knew each other between ‘action’ and ‘cut,’ and in between setups, where we would giggle,” she said. “Really, I didn’t know the man. I knew the incredible craftsman that he is.”
When asked whether she felt Netflix did the right thing to part ways with Spacey, Wright replied, “I don’t know how to comment on that, but I think at that time, the shock was so intense all over the nation for many reasons, many stories, many people, I think that everybody felt that was respectful to back off,” she said.
The sixth season of “House of Cards” — and first without Spacey — will be the final of the series and is set to premiere in the fall. Actress Patricia Clarkson recently said on the CBS program “The Talk” that it was Wright who fought to keep the show alive after Spacey’s exodus.
Spacey is currently being investigated by London police for six allegations of sexual misconduct. Los Angeles authorities have also launched a probe regarding a sex crimes case against Spacey.