Kevin Spacey Responds To Report He Sexually Harassed Then-14-Year-Old Anthony Rapp
Source: HuffPost
10/30/2017 01:15 am ET
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has addressed a report that he once sexually harassed actor Anthony Rapp.
Rapp, who is currently starring in the TV series Star Trek: Discovery and is best known for work in the play and movie Rent, told BuzzFeed News that Spacey invited him to a party at his apartment in 1986. Rapp was 14 years old at the time.
Spaceys statement, made on Twitter early Monday, included his first public declaration that he is gay. He did not deny that the incident took place, citing the passage of time and being drunk on the occasion, but apologized to Rapp for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.
I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years, Spacey wrote.
Read more: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kevin-spacey-anthony-rapp_us_59f6a786e4b03cd20b827d3d?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
My wife will be heartbroken. She lusts---not loves, lusts---Spacey.
Response to Loyd (Original post)
Ken Burch This message was self-deleted by its author.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Boilingpots
(17 posts)know how much guts it took for him to come out as Gay?
THIS is the story here.
IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)Everyone knows how much guts it took. No, it's not the story here. The child sexual abuse is. And it has come out because of other celebrities in the news lately.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Wanting some sexual favors...
Oh, but he doesn't remember and was "drunk" so just party fun right?
yardwork
(61,415 posts)yurbud
(39,405 posts)InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)MosheFeingold
(3,051 posts)I'm more concerned that he at least attempted to rape a child.
Pedophiles are scum of the worst kind. I'll never watch a thing he's in.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Now, if equally scummy people try to smear the LGBT community with this, you can bet those scumbags will be hearing from me!! I've already seen this broad generalization on social media... it sickens me, as much as Spacey dispicable actions.
Crash2Parties
(6,017 posts)instead of rightfully focusing on him being a predator. Two separate things. Only one is actually to blame but many media outlets will be more than happy to muddy the water for him.
Mediumsizedhand
(531 posts)Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)because a lot of DUers and liberals like the guy.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)In the white male comedic world, Woody Allen famously defines masturbation as sex with someone that you love.
It is pretty well documented. Louis CK may even be spoofing it in his new Woody Allen type movie next month.
He has a couple of daughters in middle school, and is by all indications, a perfect dad.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/roseanne-barr-calls-out-louis-ck-ive-heard-so-many-stories
http://defamer.gawker.com/louis-c-k-will-call-you-up-to-talk-about-his-alleged-s-1687820755
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)TV producer Glen Topher is a divorced dad whose teenage daughter China is living with him during her senior year. Glen takes China to a Hollywood party where he meets his idol Leslie Goodwin, the auteur who inspired his career. During the evening, the gossip about Goodwin's preference for underage girls begins to look plausible to Glen when the older man shows an intense interest in China. And when Goodwin invites her to go to Paris with him, Glen has to start doing some serious parenting
gldstwmn
(4,575 posts)He give me the creeps.
Kimchijeon
(1,606 posts)Jeez, what a bunch of eager witch hunters. Pity anyone who has a good career and had drunken/wacked out times at parties they might not recall. Pretty fucked up. Good distraction bullshit "news" pieces are always needed, right? Ugh.
Lokilooney
(322 posts)It all seems to be falling apart like...hmm, if only I could think of an analogy...
MontanaMama
(23,238 posts)Spacey is a child molester. WTF is wrong with people?
Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)He appeared to make a drunken advance, not diddle anyone.
There's a difference.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Inappropriate physical behavior of a sexual nature towards a minor is by definition, child molestation.
"Regardless of the terminology, it is illegal for an adult to touch any portion of a child's body with a "lewd and lascivious" intent."
https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Child+Molestation
yardwork
(61,415 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)secondwind
(16,903 posts)is honest, from the heart, and pretty nearly perfect. I will remain a staunch fan. Am a straight 70-yr old grandma of five.
Vinca
(50,168 posts)If more comes out I'll rethink it, but I don't think he's a bad person.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Good people don't invite minors to parties where there is to be drinking and where the parent(s) or guardians of said child are to be kept in the dark about the party.
Vinca
(50,168 posts)Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Inviting a 14 year old to a party where alcohol is going to be served is bad enough in of itself but on top of that, Spacey says he was so drunk at the party he doesn't remember. If one is going to have minors at a party, then they damn well better stay sober and keep a watchful eye on the children in attendance.
Vinca
(50,168 posts)they were young and foolish. If a pattern of behavior emerges, my position on Mr. Spacey will change. Otherwise, in this instance, I'm chalking it up to being an idiot.
Kimchijeon
(1,606 posts)Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Vinca
(50,168 posts)I got over it and I would have hated for him to be tagged a sex offender for his entire life. The fellow said Spacey "harassed" him at 14. If I had a dime for every time I was "harassed" as a kid I'd be rich.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)We are not talking about the actions of an "older boy".
The victim, who you seemingly dismiss, stated that the incident has had a profound effect on him for years and continues to do so.
Vinca
(50,168 posts)And he apologized. I assume you won't be happy unless he throws himself off a bridge.
christx30
(6,241 posts)or the last underage kid Spacey tried something with?
There's a Family Guy clip that's been going around today. Brian pays Stewie $8 to run naked through a mall saying "Help! I've escaped Kevin Spacey's basement!"
Perhaps it was a one time thing. But from what we all know about Hollywood, I don't think it was.
Seth McFarlane needs to sit down with the FBI and a tape recorder.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Others are coming forward about Spacey:
"Kevin Spacey is getting it from all sides as he is also being criticized for choosing this time to come out and admit that he is a homosexual. But beyond that, the people coming out to say that they had been sexually harassed or assaulted by Spacey are not only young men. Heather Unruh, a former Channel 5 anchor in Boston, tweeted a message to actor Anthony Rapp, You are not alone."
https://www.inquisitr.com/4587857/more-sexual-assault-allegations-are-being-leveled-at-kevin-spacey/
But lets continue to advocate for predators here at DU.
Vinca
(50,168 posts)The difference between us is I'm willing to give a person the benefit of the doubt for one incident, but I agree if there are multiple charges he's no different from Weinstein, Trump, Cosby and the rest. As for when he "comes out," I would think that's a personal decision and none of our business.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Not so much for a 26 year old adult who invites a 14 year old to a drinking party where there are only other adults.
yardwork
(61,415 posts)1. It's not ever ok to prey on fourteen year old children.
2. Using the excuse that he was drunk and gay is an attempt to use the worst libel against gay people - that we prey on children - as an excuse.
Spacey has admitted to being a sexual predator and worse, preying on children. And he's using being gay as an excuse.
I am appalled.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Isn't what he did bad enough ? And then he pulls out that crap
syringis
(5,101 posts)Not only as actor but as nice and decent human being.
This is a sad story.
Maybe I'm wrong but I feel his response is honest (he don't deny the facts) and that his apologies are sincere.
Well, I hope so. I can't appreciate an actor only on the basis of his work. The way a person behave is important to me.
There is many good actors and actresses I will never watch again because of their despicable behavior or words such as James Wood or Clint Eastwood or Susan Sarandon.
get the red out
(13,459 posts)Trying to sexually assault an underage kid and saying he was sorry, BUT he was drunk. My God!
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)14 year old in the first place? Was Spacey drunk when he invited a kid to a party? The sad part about this is that Spacey felt the need to cover up his homosexuality in the first place for all these years. Sadder still, the way underage actors are treated. Where are the parents?
yardwork
(61,415 posts)forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)Some of whom were older and decided to go to the party. What I can't believe is his friends *ditched him* and left him there alone.
I remember being taken to several grown-up parties by my parents when I was very young (in the 1970s). It was common that people who couldn't get sitters brought their kids along, and we were all confined to an area away from the actual party to watch TV and play. Often we were minded by the oldest teenager available, or some hosts would arrange for an adult sitter - often a non-drinker/designated driver who would shuttle between the party and the kids and keep track that their parents didn't get too sloppy.
I remember being mad that the adults were playing games (actually drinking games) that seemed more fun than watching cartoons in the other room, and I would always try to sneak in. I remember one event where they actually relented and let me sit in on a game of "Thumper" and try to play (without alcohol, of course - I had a glass of Hi-C.)
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)we do not know yet? Hannity is VERY protective of tRump.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)To come clean about this. Hopefully it was a one time thing and not a pattern.
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)And am betting most people have.
This isn't a "mistake."
What is wrong with you???
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)What is wrong with you?
In the USA I know, a person is innocent until proven guilty. This single allegation would not convince a judge.
Note that effectively we treat a person as guilty if they face 16 disparate accusers and they are recorded admitting similar crimes on tape like, say, SCROTUS tRump.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)Spacey is popular and powerful. People--even DU liberals--discount the allegations. The behavior is ignored, justified, forgiven, and allowed to continue. Meanwhile, other potential victims see that there is no choice but to shut up and hide.
EllieBC
(2,960 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)... for Spacey.
It seems that there may be some substance to this story after all.
yardwork
(61,415 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)Per another post in this thread there are more rumors about his activities and proclivities.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)legally or otherwise.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)I'm about Spacey's age and I don't remember every single thing I did in my 20s and I didn't drink much. But people can drink enough that they forget things they did, so if he says that's why he doesn't remember, I think that's possible.
Spacey's apology sounds sincere to me. Rapp never told his mother, who was with him in New York. He never reported it to the police.
"Rapp said he even met with a lawyer, who told him there was no case worth pursuing. So he put it away again, sharing his story with close friends whenever Spacey's name would come up."
Here's the original story from Buzzfeed.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/anthony-rapp-kevin-spacey-made-sexual-advance-when-i-was-14?utm_term=.kv26MwZmX#.rmWYNpZvj
Response to Bernardo de La Paz (Reply #13)
LanternWaste This message was self-deleted by its author.
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Of the Alleged Molestering of a 14 Year Old -- Are Sick! Period!
There Is NO MISTAKES when it comes to alleged molestering of a CHILD. NONE!
Phentex
(16,330 posts)there is no way to justify this. Young/old/drunk/high...it's the same crap excuses they give when anyone talks about harassment. THERE IS NO EXCUSE!
Mediumsizedhand
(531 posts)Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Jesus Christ!
yardwork
(61,415 posts)Deb
(3,742 posts)Put his a ass in freaking jail.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)Because that's logical?
Bradical79
(4,490 posts)Among those who work in Hollywood and others "in the know". He was involved with those notorious Bryan Singer parties that alegedly involved preying on underage boys. Hell, googling shows me articles written about the rumors a few years ago.
I was a big fan, and this is pretty disapointing. Glad these predators are getting exposed though.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)syringis
(5,101 posts)Je me permets de répondre en français sachant que vous le comprenez, c'est un peu compliqué en anglais.
Je sais que d'autres membres le lisent aussi mais je sais pas s'il y en a d'autres sur ce post.
En fait, c'est surtout à d'autres interventions que je m'adresse.
A propos de Kevin Spacey : j'ai répondu en anglais, je pense que c'est assez clair.
Comme vous le soulignez, c'est un peu dur de condamner si fort une personne sur base d'un seul témoignage, une personne qui par ailleurs, s'est toujours comportée avec beaucoup de courtoisie et qui donne l'impression d'avoir d'avoir de bonnes valeurs morales, d'y croire et de les appliquer. C'est en tout cas comme ça que je le perçois, j'espère vraiment ne pas m'être trompée car c'est vraiment un acteur que j'aime beaucoup. Comme je l'ai dit, je ne peux ni ne veux cautionner un acteur aussi talentueux soit-il, si dans sa vie privée, il fait bon marché de valeurs morales telles que le respect, la tolérance, le souci de ne pas nuire aux faibles et de les protéger.
Je pense que ce témoignage est probablement vrai, l'acteur étant connu, il n'a rien à gagner à inventer une histoire pareille. De même, je trouve que la réponse de Kevin Spacey est empreinte d'humilité et que ses excuses sont sincères.
A propos de Bryan Singer, il semblerait que l'accusation à l'époque ne reposait sur rien, son avocat ayant apporté la preuve qu'il ne se trouvait pas là où on l'accusait d'être. D'autre part, celui qui l'accusait a volontairement retiré son accusation. N'ayant eu aucun document officiel en main, en bonne juriste, je reste donc au conditionnel et n'affirme ni dans un sens ni dans l'autre
A priori, il semblerait aussi que malgré sa préférence pour les jeunes garçons, il soit attentif au fait que les jeunes garçons soient au moins majeurs, même s'ils le sont tout juste. Idem que ci-dessus, je n'affirme ni n'infirme mes propos, vu que je n'ai aucune preuve dans un sens ni dans l'autre.
Moralement, je n'apprécie pas trop mais bon, tant que les personnes sont consentantes et savent à quoi elles s'engagent, elles font comme elles veulent. Et je ne parle pas seulement de majorité légale.
Bien entendu, ceci n'est que mon avis et n'engage que moi.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)Vous avez fait un bon teste de ma abilité francophone, mais vous avez ecrit avec les mots et phrase ce que je veut comprens. Sans argot, et clair. Les autre mots et phrase j' avais comprendre avec le contexte, avec les mots environ.
syringis
(5,101 posts)I answer as much as I can in English, which is normal on a English forum, but sometimes, it is easier in French. Especially if I don't have time to built a coherent one.
I'll try to translate later the entire reply. What are the words you didn't understand? I can translate them one by one.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)Bradical79
(4,490 posts)Most don't pay attention to that sort of thing. I didn't even know he was gay until yesterday, lol. I just happen to read some posts elsewhere where some Hollywood workers I know of happen to hang out, and went down the google rabbit hole of finding previous rumors and accusations.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Apparently Spacey remembers being drunk at the party although he claims he doesn't recall the actually assault.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)Using gay as an excuse for molesting a child? Shameful.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)Powerful people get a pass. No wonder people stay silent.
ripcord
(5,084 posts)If this same thing had happened between a 26 year old man and a 14 year old girl.
yardwork
(61,415 posts)thesquanderer
(11,954 posts)LisaL
(44,962 posts)lucky the boy is.
get the red out
(13,459 posts)He is throwing gay people under the bus with that shit.
IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)It's not clear from the articles what happened.
Rollo
(2,559 posts)... actually having sex with anybody ...
And I think I saw a post elsewhere that there was a scene in the play that Rapp was appearing in where the same sort of situation was enacted ... with him as the "victim" ...
As an aside... when I was about 13, the orchestra teacher at my middle school was prone to fondling the butts of boys who came within range... I didn't know about it until I got the "feel", after which I avoided him... which was too bad because it meant that I never tried to learn an instrument at that time... As far as I know, nobody ever complained about this creepy guy, though, and he was still in his position when I graduated and moved on to high school. In his case, this wasn't a case of him being drunk or him being unaware of his actions, and it was a serial activity. And I don't know if he ever took his touching further... but I still remember his name.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)As the allegation goes, apparently 14 year old was able to get away and wasn't actually raped.
The allegation is detailed in this story here.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/anthony-rapp-kevin-spacey-made-sexual-advance-when-i-was-14?utm_term=.onEYNDlGEg#.voy8gXvyzd
Rollo
(2,559 posts)But I think having no memory of the incident tends to lend credence to the corroboration that Spacey was too drunk to perform intercourse. Rapp's own statement was that Spacey was visibly drunk ("swaying" and that he was able to "squirm away" without getting, for lack of a better term, nailed.
Of course if this is what Spacey did it was very wrong. But I don't know how he can better handle this than express his deepest apology for an incident he says he cannot recall.
In m own case, I have never had the urge to go public with a description of the inappropriate contact from a teacher I experienced as a pre-teen. I was also able to squirm away and avoided that teacher from then on. The teacher is no doubt dead by now (it was in the mid-60's and he was no spring chicken then), so I don't really see what is to be gained at this point. Social awareness of "stranger danger" and child abuse is far greater today - so I assume a kid today would know more about what to do about it than I did back then.
thesquanderer
(11,954 posts)Rollo
(2,559 posts)Not the broader sense.
thesquanderer
(11,954 posts)...so whether he was or was not capable of it doesn't seem relevant. Unless I'm just missing your point, sorry if I am.
Rollo
(2,559 posts)That Spacey wasn't accused of rape because he didn't attempt it, and that he didn't attempt it because he was too drunk to get it up.
I hope I don't have to get more explicit.
.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)The boy says he managed to get away. Presumably at that time it was obvious that the boy wasn't into it. So would that not be a reason enough to stop?
Rollo
(2,559 posts)I'd like to think I'd have said something to somebody about the incident... but then kids at that age are generally confused about such things, and he may have felt guilty about being out late, perhaps consuming alcohol himself, etc. And it appears the kid himself turned out to be a gay adult, so he may have played along to a certain point out of curiosity until he realized it wasn't what he wanted, for whatever reason. But I'm not accepting that the kid was at all responsible for Spacey's alleged behavior.
No means no.
Kaleva
(36,146 posts)Rollo
(2,559 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)Spacey made a "sexual advance" and Rapp squirmed away and left. He said it wasn't unusual for him to go to cast parties and such by himself. He said he didn't drink alcohol. He also didn't tell his mother or the police. He did consult with a lawyer who said there was nothing to pursue legally.
Rollo
(2,559 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)But what did he mean by "sexual advance"?
Did Spacey kiss him? Inappropriate, but not illegal.
Did Spacey touch Rapp's genitals? Inappropriate AND illegal.
Personally, I think Rapp is jealous of Spacey's success and that is part of the reason why he is still suffering so much pain over an event that happened over 30 years ago. JMHO
Rollo
(2,559 posts)...then this is a big whoop over essentially nothing, legally speaking.
I wonder how much of the outrage being expressed against Spacey is because he is gay and/or concealed it for so long, or at least tried to.
I do think he's a great actor and it's a shame how this is cutting into his gigs.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)I don't think he ever actively tried to conceal his sexuality. He just refused to discuss his private life. He never had a fake "girlfriend" that I'm aware of. Until she passed away in 2003, his mother was always his date to awards shows. I do think his "coming out" now was rather awkward, but it's really nothing we didn't know already. Now if he's part of the "pedophile ring" in Hollywood that Cory Feldman talks about, that's another thing entirely.
Rapp's story about the "sexual advance" brings to mind something Lord Grantham said on Downtown Abbey.
"If I shouted blue murder every time someone tried to kiss me at Eton, I'd have gone hoarse in a month."
Watchfoxheadexplodes
(3,496 posts)Ehh
AntiFascist
(12,792 posts)Netflix has now decided to cancel House of Cards after its 6th season because of this. Meanwhile, they are spending shitloads of money producing Star Trek.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)Season 5 didn't have especially good ratings or reviews compared to other seasons. It was probably time to wrap things up anyway.
AntiFascist
(12,792 posts)House of Cards may have gotten a bum rap when it was reported that employees of Russian fake news troll farms were required to watch the series to help understand American political issues.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Some years back, a close friend suggested I learn to separate the art from the artist.
After getting into the habit of doing just that, every year seems to bring in another handful of accurate examples of why, as a contemporary movie fan, and fan of the Impressionists and classic literature, it's in my best interest to continue doing so.
I cannot, in good conscience rationalize a 26 year old male, regardless of how drunk, sexually harassing someone.
Drunk is not a reason, it's an excuse. 26 years old is not a reason, it's an excuse. 31 years in the past is not a reason, it's an excuse.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)truthisfreedom
(23,113 posts)His career is completely in limbo. This revelation goes into the "beyond egregious" bin. You don't pin down an underage person while making drunken sexual suggestions and, later, expect walk away from that when you've both achieved fame.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)He'll finish his days in ignominious solitude.
Calista241
(5,584 posts)Hes got no way to defend himself from this. His career is over, hes a pariah now.
In court, you at least have to have some evidence to take someones life away.
People say that these kinds of stories arent made up. But at some point, people are going to realize that these kinds of accusations work, and theyre going to start making them up.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)He's always been predatory and skeevy. That's why he knows denying it is a completely hopeless notion.
I do understand what you mean, but in Spacey's case it just isn't applicable.