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Kevin Spacey’s ‘Apology’ to Anthony Rapp Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct Slammed on Social Media
Late Sunday night, news broke that Academy Award-winning superstar Kevin Spacey was being accused of making unwanted sexual advances towards actor Anthony Rapp (Rent, Star Trek Discovery) while both were performing on Broadway in 1986.
The story, first reported by BuzzFeed, details an encounter Rapp had with Spacey when the former was just 14. According to Rapp, he attended a party for Broadway performers at Spacey’s apartment. By the end of the night, Rapp was unwittingly the final person left at Spacey’s home. From there, Rapp explains:
“My memory was that I thought, ‘Oh, everybody’s gone. Well, yeah, I should probably go home.’ [Spacey] sort of stood in the doorway, kind of swaying. My impression when he came in the room was that he was drunk. 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. [Spacey] was, like, pressing into me … It was a frozen moment. In terms of fight or flight or freeze, I tend to freeze.
“I was like, ‘What is happening?’ I saw on the counter next to the sink a picture of him having his arm around a man. So I think on some level I was like, ‘Oh. He’s gay, I guess.’ Then I opened the door, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to go home now.’ He followed me to the front door of the apartment, and 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.”
The piece goes on to describe how the incident has haunted Rapp through the years, including an awkward encounter between the two actors at an edition of the Tony Awards.
As the BuzzFeed article quickly went viral Sunday night, Spacey issued a statement on his Twitter account.
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
However, Spacey’s “apology” was immediately met with venom on social media, from celebrities and average Joes alike, as many accused the House of Cards actor of trying to “bury” the accusations of sexually assaulting a minor by coming out as a gay man in the message.
— Zachary Quinto (@ZacharyQuinto) October 30, 2017
Nope to Kevin Spacey’s statement. Nope. There’s no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017
That Kevin Spacey statement. Nope. Absolutely not. Nope.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017
Used to think Kevin Spacey was absolutely amazing in House of Cards. Turns out he wasn’t acting and actually is Frank Underwood ? pic.twitter.com/FirPUnJPEk
— Brian Ramsay (@BrianRamsay_) October 30, 2017
Spacey’s statement was also slammed by GLAAD.
THIS.
“May Anthony Rapp’s voice be the one which is amplified here.” https://t.co/yaIP6lvmd7
— GLAAD (@glaad) October 30, 2017
Others have tweeted support of Rapp and lambasted the media for focusing too much on Spacey at the alleged victim’s expense.
Dear fellow media:
Keep focus on #AnthonyRapp BE THE VICTIM’S VOICE. Help us level the playing field.
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 30, 2017
I am so proud of my dear friend @albinokid. I love you, Anthony. And I am immensely proud of you.
— Tracie Thoms (@traciethoms) October 30, 2017
While it remains to be seen whether Spacey’s career will end over the controversy, Netflix did announce on Monday that that actor’s hit series House of Cards will be concluding following the upcoming sixth season. Insiders claim, however, that the decision was planned long before the Spacey allegations came to light.