HOLLYWOOD actor Kevin Spacey has faced criticism for his acknowledgement of claims of sexual abuse against him and his subsequent apology.
The House of Cards actor has addressed actor Anthony Rapp's allegations that he made sexual advances towards Rapp when he was just 14 years old.
Speaking to Buzzfeed, Rapp said at the time of the incident, Spacey was 26 years of age and invited him to a party back at his apartment where Spacy "picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold...And then he lays down on top of me."
Frightened and confused as a young man in his teenage years, Rapp ran to the toilet and thought of a strategy to excuse himself without offending the famous actor. Rapp recalled "as I opened the door to leave, he was leaning on the front door[frame]. And he was like, ‘Are you sure you wanna go?’ I said, ‘Yes, good night,’ and then I did leave."
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
Spacey's apology in full reads:
"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I'm beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken [sic] behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.
"This story has encouraged me to address other things about my 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.
"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."
The response to Spacey's apology has mainly been negative, with many Irish writers, actors and activists condemning not only Spacey's alleged predatory behaviour but also the choice the actor made in linking his homosexuality with the apology for his previous inappropriate behaviour.
Irish comedian and actor Aisling Bea admitted that she knew many people working in the drama industry with similar stories of reportedly receiving unwanted advances from Spacey before.
I don’t know many actors from my era of drama school graduates who don’t have a Kevin Spacey story. The surprise is the lack of surprise. ?
— Aisling Bea (@WeeMissBea) October 30, 2017
Dublin playwright Philly MacMahon, one of the writers behind Panti Bliss' documentary The Queen of Ireland, condemned the conflation of Spacey's apology for the alleged sexual assault and his announcement of his homosexuality.
Kevin Spacey waits his whole life to come out and then uses his queerness as a smoke bomb to distract from predator allegation. You fuck.
— Philly McMahon (@McMahonPhilly) October 30, 2017
There's a vile homophobia in Spacey's response. The implication is that he touched a 14yo *beacuse* he is gay. NO. That's PEDOPHILIA.
— Philly McMahon (@McMahonPhilly) October 30, 2017
Irish DJ and GCN columnist Conor Behan had similar sentiments regarding the statement from Spacey.
While I don’t think anyone “owes” the world a coming out for Spacey to leverage his as way to deflect from horrid accusations is truly foul
— Conor Behan (@platinumjones) October 30, 2017
So many LGBTQ pioneers blazed a trail by being out when that meant harm/violence/lack of work n NOW Spacey wants in on coming out? Trash
— Conor Behan (@platinumjones) October 30, 2017
Director of Amnesty Ireland, Colm O'Gorman also took issue with the headlines certain news agency used to circulate the story.
You need to cop on @Reuters Report the actual story: ‘Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is accused of sexual assault of a 14 year old boy.’ https://t.co/LBh0Hl5iaB
— Colm O'Gorman (@Colmogorman) October 30, 2017
See More: Featured, Kevin Spacey
