Spacey apologizes after allegations by actor
Kevin Spacey on Sunday responded to accusations that he made a sexual advance on a minor, saying that he didn’t remember the encounter with actor Anthony Rapp but apologized “if I did behave as (Rapp) describes.”
The veteran actor also publicly came out as gay in the same statement.
“This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life,” Spacey said.
In an interview with BuzzFeed published Sunday, Rapp said he was in Spacey’s apartment for a party in 1986, and at the end of the night, Spacey picked Rapp up, placed him on a bed and climbed on top of him, making an advance. The two knew each other because of their Broadway work; Rapp at the time was 14, and Spacey was 26, BuzzFeed reported.
The publication notes requests for comment from Spacey went unanswered. Hours later, Spacey posted his statement on Twitter, writing: “I’m beyond horrified to hear his story.”
“I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago,” Spacey continued. “But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.”
His late-night statement outraged many, particularly in the LGBT community, who accused Spacey on Monday of trying to deflect from a serious accusation by coming out and implying that it was his choice to be gay.
“Coming out stories should not be used to deflect from allegations of sexual assault,” GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.
A Netflix representative confirmed Monday that the upcoming sixth season of “House of Cards,” starring Spacey, would be the show’s last but said its cancellation was decided months ago.