Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey has been accused of making a sexual advance toward a fourteen-year-old male actor. The advance allegedly happened all the way back in 1986. Spacey's career on Broadway was just taking off. He was twenty-six and starring in Long Day's Journey Into Night. Around that time, he allegedly met Anthony Rapp, who would later achieve fame as part of the original Rent cast. And in Dazed and Confused. And in Star Trek: Discovery. And in way more. He was fourteen, and during a party at Spacey's residence, the House Of Cards star allegedly picked him up, carried him to a bed and pressed against him.
The story was officially told by Anthony Rapp on the record for Buzzfeed today. He also told a far less detailed version for The Advocate all the way back in 2001, though Spacey's name was redacted at the time. Not anymore. In light of all the recent allegations that have exploded around Hollywood, Rapp came forward and shared the alleged event.
According to Rapp, he met Spacey at a post-show function and later, accompanied by a seventeen-year-old friend, went out with the much older actor to a nightclub. A few days later, he allegedly went to a party at Spacey's house. Not knowing anyone, Rapp claims he went into a bedroom and watched television by himself until around midnight when he says a drunk Spacey entered, picked him up and laid him on the bed. He then allegedly pressed himself on top until the fourteen-year-old squirmed his way out and went into the bathroom. Rapp then claims he walked back out and said he wanted to leave. He says Spacey asked if he was sure. He said he was and he left. The two have not spoken since.
Here's a portion of Rapp's explanation about why he decided to come forward now...
In 1986, these things weren't talked about very openly very much, except for maybe in an after-school-special kind of way. There's so much more openness about talking about these issues, and so many people are coming forward and sharing their stories. The oxygen in the room is there for us to really do something about it.
Just hours after the original story was published, Kevin Spacey responded on Twitter. You can read his entire statement below...
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 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 fueled 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 behavior.
At this point, it's unclear what, if anything, will happen from the allegation. We'll keep you updated if any important new details emerge.
