Liam Neeson has voiced his support for Kevin Spacey, saying that the actor should be allowed to return to Hollywood.
The 64-year-old actor, best known for starring in House of Cards, has not featured in any acting projects since being accused of sexual misconduct by several men.
Last July, Spacey was found not guilty of all charges of sexual assault against four men between 2001 and 2013.
"But I would like to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision and I am humbled by the outcome today," Spacey said after the verdict.
A Channel 4 documentary titled Spacey Unmasked was released earlier this month and featured testimony from several men. These were separate allegations from those who had filed criminal complaints with British police.
The two-time Academy-award winner has denied allegations of inappropriate behavior that featured in the docu-series.
"I take full responsibility for my past behavior and my actions," he told Dan Wootton, per BBC. "But I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who's made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me."
"I've never told someone that if they give me sexual favors, then I will help them out with their career, ever," he continued. "I've clearly hooked up with, you know, some men who thought they might get ahead in their careers by having a relationship with me."
"But there was no conversation with me, it was all part of their plan, one that was always destined to fail, because I wasn't in on the deal," Spacey added.
Now, a few Hollywood stars such as Liam Neeson, Sharon Stone, Stephen Fry, and F. Murray Abraham are calling for Spacey to return to the film industry.
In a statement given to The Telegraph, Stone said: “I can’t wait to see Kevin back at work. He is a genius. He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault, and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will."
The Basic Instinct actress stated that it was clear aspiring actors “wanted and want to be around him," adding: “It’s terrible that they are blaming him for not being able to come to terms with themselves for using him and negotiating with themselves because they didn’t get their secret agendas."
Fry told the outlet that whilst the Seven had often been “clumsy and inappropriate”, it was “wrong to continue to batter” his reputation.
The former QI presenter then questioned how it can be “considered proportionate and justified” to “devote a whole documentary to accusations that simply do not add up to crimes.”
“Surely it is wrong to continue to batter a reputation on the strength of assertion and rhetoric rather than evidence and proof? Unless I’m missing something, I think he has paid the price," he added.
Liam Neeson told the publication he “was deeply saddened to learn of these accusations against” the American beauty actor.
“Kevin is a good man and a man of character. He’s sensitive, articulate, and non-judgmental, with a terrific sense of humor," the 71-year-old Taken star continued. "He is also one of our finest artists in the theatre and on camera."
"Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly," he shared.