Kevin Spacey ‘sexually abused 20 people at The Old Vic theatre’
Kevin Spacey will appear in cinemas at least one more time to star in Billionaire Boys Club – a film which was made at least a year before sexual misconduct allegations came to light (Getty)
Kevin Spacey has been accused of sexual misconduct by 20 more people, as recently as 2013.
The Old Vic in London has said it has received 20 personal testimonies of inappropriate behaviour committed by the Hollywood star while he was artistic director at the theatre.
Spacey has been accused of multiple incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour since Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp said last month that he made sexual advances on him when Rapp was 14.
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The Old Vic said a “cult of personality” existed around Spacey during his nine years as director, adding that his status had stopped people – especially junior staff and actors – from coming forward, according to The Guardian.
It opened the investigation following a stream of allegations against the actor, including testimony from Mexican actor Rob Cavazos, who worked with Spacey at the Old Vic.
Cavazos alleged that Spacey approached him in “unpleasant encounters” which he said he would have termed “harassment” if he were a woman.
Roberto Cavazos (Facebook/roberto cavazos)
He said the American Beauty actor was commonly found at the theatre bar, “squeezing whoever caught his attention.”
Cavazos – who has been in Rush and Doctor Who – said at the time: “There are many of us who have a ‘Kevin Spacey story’.
“It seems that it only took a male under 30 to make Mr Spacey feel free to touch us.
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“It was so common that it even became a local joke (in very bad taste).”
In a statement, the Old Vic said: “Despite having the appropriate escalation processes in place, it was claimed that those affected felt unable to raise concerns and that Kevin Spacey operated without sufficient accountability.
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“This is clearly unacceptable and the Old Vic truly apologises for not creating an environment or culture where people felt able to speak freely.”
The Old Vic’s chairman Nick Clarry apologised to “all those people who felt unable to speak up at the time”.
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He continued: “Inappropriate behaviour by anyone working at the Old Vic is completely unacceptable.
“We will foster a safe and supportive environment without prejudice, harassment or bullying of any sort, at any level,” he pledged.
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The investigation showed that in all but one case, people who accused Spacey had not made a formal complaint.
Every incident in the report is alleged to have taken place before 2009, apart from two.
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The theatre added that “no legal claims, formal grievances, formal disputes, settlement agreements or payments made or authorised were made at all in relation to Kevin Spacey during his tenure”.
The Old Vic’s current artistic director, Matthew Warchus, said: ‘I have genuine and deep sympathy for all those who have come forward and said they were hurt in some way by my predecessor’s actions.
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“Everyone is entitled to work in an environment free from harassment and intimidation.”
But he denied that Spacey’s behaviour was common knowledge at the theatre.
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“These allegations have been a shock and a disturbing surprise to many of us,” he said.
“It is incorrect, unfair and irresponsible to say that everybody knew.”
Eight people claimed that Spacey had sexually harassed House of Cards employees during his time on the set, including one who he allegedly sexually assaulted.
In response, Netflix severed all ties with Spacey, sacking him from House of Cards in the process.
British police are currently investigating an allegation of sexual assault made against Spacey.
An alleged victim claimed that after being invited to Spacey’s London home for a drink in 2008, he passed out – and woke to find the star performing oral sex on him.
This was not the only allegation to be made after Rapp’s story was made public.
Anthony Rapp
A man on the east coast of the US said that Spacey repeatedly had sex with him when he was 14, adding: “He tried to rape me.”
Filmmaker Tony Montana also accused Spacey of having sexually assaulted him in 2003, saying: “He put his hand on my crotch forcefully and grabbed my whole package.”
Tony Montana (YouTube/tony montana)
Another alleged victim, Daniel Beal, said that Spacey showed him his penis in public when he was 19, before giving him his £5,000 watch to buy his silence.
“He said: ‘It’s big, isn’t it?’ He leaned over and tried to pull my hand towards it,” Beal told The Sun.
Dan Beal (Facebook/dan beal)
He accused Spacey of “grooming”.
Another man, who did not reveal his name, told the BBC he was left traumatised after waking to find Spacey lying on him, in his underwear, with his arms wrapped around him.
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The man, who was a teenager at the time, said Spacey’s behaviour during that weekend was “either very stupid or predatory – or maybe a little of both.”
He added: “It seems he was grooming me.
