Kevin Spacey has responded to allegations that he made a sexual advance towards actor Anthony Rapp when Rapp was 14 years old.
In a statement published on Twitter, Spacey wrote “I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave as [Rapp] describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour.”
The House Of Cards star, who was 26 at the time of the alleged incident, is now facing criticism for coming out as gay in the same statement in which he addressed his behaviour towards Rapp.
Coming out as a gay man is not the same thing as coming out as someone who preyed on a 14-year-old. Conflating those things is disgusting
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) October 30, 2017
My gay son & his friends fight stereotypes constantly – shame on you Kevin Spacey for linking assaulting a minor with coming out as gay.
— Sherri (@SociallySherri) October 30, 2017
Kevin Spacey's statement is PR bullshit trying to change the narrative to a coming out story. How fucking dare he.
— Carl Greenwood (@carlgreenwood) October 30, 2017
Anthony Rapp made the accusations in an interview with Buzzfeed News, saying: “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.”
“He was trying to seduce me. I don’t know if I would have used that language. But I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually.”
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
Rapp’s comments can be read in full here.
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