Spacey is also facing sexual assault allegations in the UK. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
The trial against former actor Kevin Spacey began in New York on Thursday where a jury has heard allegations of sexual abuse brought against him by Anthony Rapp.
It’s been alleged by Mr Rapp, that Mr Spacey (then 26 years old) tried to “gratify his sexual desires” by trying to seduce him when he was 14 years old at an apartment in New York in 1986.
Peter Saghir, lawyer for Mr Rapp claims that Mr Spacey was heavily drunk when he picked Mr Rapp up in his arms, swaying him around and pretending to him to carry him over a threshold, before then taking him into the bedroom where he lied on top of the 14-year-old.
Mr Saghir said that Mr Rapp got away to the bathroom before he was met by Mr Spacey at the apartment door who asked him if he was sure he wanted “to go”. It was also alleged that Mr Spacey pushed his pelvis into Mr Rapp’s hips when they were on the bed.
Mr Rapp said through the incident he felt “frozen” when he “felt the weight of Spacey” on top of him and that everything that happened “was no accident, this was no horseplay”.
Kevin Spacey sexual assault trial begins today.
A jury will hear Anthony Rapp’s allegations of sexual assault in 1986 when Rapp was only 14. pic.twitter.com/9KlMZBZZ9c— Leisa 🇺🇸 (@LeisaSNewman) October 6, 2022
However, the legal team for Mr Spacey have said that Mr Rapp has fabricated the sexual misconduct allegations because he was jealous of the success of Mr Spacey has had in his career.
“He blames Mr Spacey for everything that hasn’t gone well in his life,” said Mr Spacey’s lawyer Jennifer L. Keller.
“[Rapp] peaked around the year 2000 and he grew bitter about not getting parts as an openly gay man.”
Mr Rapp brought the allegations to light in a 2017 interview with Buzzfeed during the #MeToo movement that was making waves through Hollywood.
In response to the allegations, Mr Spacey said that he did not remember the incident happening at all “but if I did behave as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour”.
The lawsuit was filed in 2020 with Mr Rapp seeking US$40 million in damages for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Kevin Spacey is also facing sexual assault allegations in the UK.
