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Kevin Spacey went to court Thursday to defend himself in a lawsuit brought by Anthony Rapp, the actor’s first in a string of sexual misconduct allegations in 2017 that led to the “House of Cards” star’s death A career in theater and filmmaking was in trouble.
The trial, which is expected to last less than two weeks, will focus on an alleged encounter between the two in New York City in 1986, when Rapp was a growing child actor and Spacey, then 26, was having a Broadway show. Breakthrough moment.
Rapp, who was 14 at the time, said the older actor invited him to a party at his Manhattan apartment and then tried to lure him in the bedroom after other guests left.
He said a drunk Spacey held him in his arms like a groom would hold a bride, then put him on the bed and climbed on top of him. Rapp said he quickly left in a jeering way, then kept silent about what happened for 30 years as the three actors watched their careers take off.
When Rapp told Buzzfeed his story in 2017, as the #MeToo movement began to take Hollywood by storm, Spacey said he doesn’t remember it, “but if I actually acted as he described it, I owe him the most. A sincere apology is highly inappropriate drunken behavior.”
Since then, though, Spacey’s legal team has said the allegation was false. Rapp had never been to a party, they said. They argue that even if it happens as Rapp describes it, it does not constitute sexual progress.
Jury selection for the trial will begin on Thursday, followed by opening statements. Rapp wants compensation for mental and emotional pain, medical bills and unemployment.
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For Spacey, 63, the trial comes at a worrying time.
Three months ago he pleaded not guilty in London to allegations of sexual assault against three men when he was artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015.
This summer, a judge in Los Angeles upheld an arbitrator’s decision ordering Spacey to pay the producers of the Netflix show “House of Cards” $30.9 million for violating his contract and sexually harassing cast members.
Those setbacks come after Spacey, who recently re-starred in the movie, had some victories.
In 2019, prosecutors in Massachusetts dropped indecent assault and battery charges filed after a man claimed Spacey groped him at a Nantucket bar. Spacey said he was innocent. His plaintiffs also dropped the civil suit.
Spacey won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1999 film “American Beauty,” in which he played a frustrated suburban father who longs for his teenage daughter’s best friend .
Rapp, who starred in films such as “Nanny Adventures” as a teenager, was part of the original Broadway cast “Rent” and is now a regular on “Star Trek: Discovery” on TV.
Both Rapp and Spacey are expected to testify at the trial.
Other witnesses may include a psychologist who believes Rapp is currently experiencing PTSD from his encounter with Spacey.
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