“I honestly do not remember the encounter…”
Hollywood star Kevin Spacey has apologised and ‘come out’ as gay after accusations he made a drunken sexual advance toward a child actor.
The actor has faced criticism from Hollywood and beyond, with some accusing him of trying to use his long-awaited ‘revelation’ concerning his sexuality as a smokescreen to cover the more troubling allegations.
Anthony Rapp was 14 when he claims Spacey invited him to a party and then lifted him onto a bed before lying on top of him.
I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out 1/3
— Anthony Rapp (@albinokid) 30 October 2017
Spacey, who was 26 at the time of the alleged incident, said: “I honestly do not remember the encounter… but if I did behave then as he describes I owe him the sincerest apology.”
In his statement, Spacey also revealed he was now living as a gay man after many years of refusing to address what many considered an open secret about his homosexuality.
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) 30 October 2017
Anthony Rapp is now 46 and is best known for appearing in Star Trek: Discovery.
In his interview with BuzzFeed News, Anthony Rapp said he was sitting on the edge of a bed after a party at Spacey’s apartment in 1986 when Spacey, now 58, came into the bedroom.
“He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I don’t, like, squirm away initially, because I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then he lays down on top of me,” Rapp said.
“He was trying to seduce me… I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually.”
Rapp said he was able to go to the bathroom before he left, where he saw a picture of Spacey with a man in his arms and only realised then that the actor might be gay.
At the time, Spacey was a little-known theatre actor but 2 years after the alleged sexual advance, Rapp saw him in the film Working Girl with Melanie Griffith:
“I literally jumped out of my seat, like somebody had jolted me with a cattle prod,” Rapp said. “It was this double whammy of, like, wait a second, that guy. And then it was coupled with the fact that his character was coming on to Melanie Griffith drunkenly. … It was a profound jolt to my system.”
Responding to the allegation, Spacey said he was “sorry for the feelings [Rapp] describes having carried with him all these years”.
He also addressed “stories” about his personal life, saying he had had relationships with both men and women and was now living as a gay man.
“I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour.”
Spacey’s decision to reveal his sexuality at the same time as addressing an allegation of sexual assault against a child drew criticism from Hollywood and beyond.
Did you sexually assault a minor?
Okay, yes. I am gay.
No, that’s not… that’s not what we’re asking.
— Jonesy. (@NotThatJonesy) 30 October 2017
(Kevin Spacey beats a man to death with an accordion)
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. They’re true. I am indeed an accordion player.”
— Jason Steele (@FilmCow) 30 October 2017
