Gay stars’ anger over Spacey’s apology for ‘seducing boy of 14’
He comes out after claim he targeted actor Career in balance as Netflix axes his hit show
KEVIN Spacey was accused yesterday of trying to excuse his behaviour by coming out as gay after allegations that he tried to seduce a boy of 14.
Spacey, 58, issued a public apology after former child actor Anthony rapp alleged the oscar-winner placed him on a bed and climbed on top of him in his apartment in 1986.
In a day that rocked Hollywood: ÷ Spacey said he was ‘ beyond horrified’ by the claims but did not remember the incident; ÷ The House of Cards star then confirmed that, following years of speculation, he is gay; ÷ As further allegations were made about Spacey, he was strongly criticised for the nature of his apology; ÷ Netflix, which makes House of Cards, revealed its upcoming sixth series will be the last.
Former Great British Bake off host Sue Perkins, who has talked openly about her sexuality, wrote on Twitter: ‘Well done Kev. You stay silent on your sexuality until the time comes when you can conflate it with an alleged sexual assault on a minor. In doing so, you simultaneously undervalue the horrific nature of the allegation and set back the LGBT+ community. Well done.’
others accused Spacey, who was artistic director of London’s old Vic theatre for 12 years until 2015, of conflating his sexuality with his alleged behaviour in a bid to distract from the claims and to garner sympathy.
rapp, 46, who appears in the US TV series Star Trek: Discov- ery, told Buzzfeed that he attended a party at Spacey’s New York apartment in 1986 having been befriended by the actor, then 26, when they were appearing on Broadway in different productions.
rapp said he ‘looked younger than 14’. As the only child at the party, he got bored and went to watch TV in Spacey’s bedroom.
It was after midnight when he realised he was the only remaining guest. Spacey appeared, apparently drunk, ‘ picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold’, put him on the bed and lay on top.
‘He was trying to seduce me,’ said rapp. He recalled Spacey ‘pressing into’ him and ‘tightening his arms’ but was able to squirm free.
Spacey said he was ‘ beyond horrified’ by the allegation. ‘I honestly do not remember the encounter, which would have been over 30 years ago,’ he said.
‘But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour.’
Spacey said rapp’s account encouraged him to address ‘other things’ about his life.
‘I know that there are stories out there about me and that some have been fuelled by the fact that I have been so protective of my privacy,’ he said.
‘As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour.’
Yesterday, Netflix said it was ‘deeply troubled’ by the allegation against its House of Card star and revealed the show will end after its upcoming sixth series, which is currently in production. The decision to end the show was made several months ago, a source said.
rapp’s allegation came two weeks after Heather Unruh, a former TV news anchor, accused Spacey of assaulting a loved one.
Yesterday there were further claims. Vicky Featherstone, artistic director of London’s royal Court theatre, told the Today programme there had been ‘concerns’ about Spacey’s behaviour.
rose mcGowan – one of the many women to accuse Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of sex offences – urged the media to focus on the victim, adding: ‘Bye bye, Spacey goodbye, it’s your turn to cry.’
Star Trek actor Zachary Quinto called Spacey’s statement a ‘calculated manipulation’ to ‘deflect attention’.
Josh rivers, editor of Gay Times, said: ‘ Kevin Spacey choosing this moment to declare his sexuality, as if it has anything to do with his alleged behaviour, is highly problematic.’
rapp, who came out as gay in 1992, said his ‘stomach churns’ when he sees Spacey. He did not tell his mother about the incident and told friends only when he was an adult.
Spacey has always refused to answer questions about his sexuality. But he denied being gay in a Playboy interview after a 1997 Esquire story strongly implied he was.
Spacey’s older brother, randall Fowler, 62, has previously said he and Spacey were damaged by their upbringing at the hands of their ‘Nazi’ father.
mr Fowler said he was repeatedly raped by their father Thomas Geoffrey Fowler. He said: ‘There was so much darkness in our home it was beyond belief. It was absolutely miserable.’
‘Calculated manipulation’