Kevin Spacey has taken to the stand as the actor faces multiple allegations of sexual offenses, as he seeks to defend himself against the claims.
The 63-year-old actor is currently in court in London on 12 sexual offense charges against four men dating between 2001 and 2013, during which time the American Beauty actor had been in his role as Artistic Director of The Old Vic theater in Waterloo, London.
Spacey has previously pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges - which range from indecent and sexual assaults to the more severe offense of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, an offense carrying a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
The actor's initial plea of not guilty was made in July 2022, addressing five of the charges - inclusive of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He later reiterated his innocence in January, denying seven additional sex offense charges, including multiple alleged sexual assaults against a man from 2001 to 2004.
During their opening statements in court on June 30, the prosecution said that Spacey is an "extremely famous" actor who is well-known by many, but alleged that he's also a man who "sexually assaults other men."
Criminal barrister Christine Agnew KC told the jury that Spacey is a person who "does not respect personal boundaries or space, a man who it would seem delights in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable - a sexual bully."
She then added, per BBC News: "It is only right that you might feel a little star-struck or overwhelmed that you are part of the jury to try such a famous person," reinforcing that the jury's only job is to concentrate on the evidence put before them.
Agnew also discussed the details of the allegations against Spacey, stemming from his time at The Old Vic. The first complainant reportedly received "inappropriate and unwelcome touching" from Spacey while he was in the actor's company. The jury heard that Spacey would "touch him inappropriately, he would grab him or try to grab his bottom" and there were possibly "five or six occasions" when he put his "hand onto his penis".
At this point, Agnew stated that the complainant alleged Spacey had laughed and been "turned on" by the victim's anger.
Taking to the stand today (July 13), Spacey explained that one of his accusers was an "intimate pal" who has since "stabbed [him] in the back".
As per AP News, Spacey said: "I never thought that (the man) I knew would... 20 years later stab me in the back."
Spacey describes the relationship between him and the accuser as consensual, and that any intimate touching was "flirty" and he backed off as soon as instructed.
"He said things like, ‘This is new for me,’ so I think he may have been surprised by his reaction," Spacey said. "The only thing he made clear was he didn’t want to go further than we were going and I respected that."
Another accuser claimed that he met Spacey in 2008 at an audition, before writing to Spacey to ask the actor for mentoring. Eventually, Spacey allegedly invited him back to an apartment where, after the complainant had fallen asleep, he claims Spacey began assaulting him.
"He [the complainant] thought he was only awake at Kevin Spacey Fowler's apartment for about one hour so must have been asleep or passed out for about five hours," Agnew told the jury. "He has always thought this was strange and unlike him as he had four to five pints at the pub in the afternoon, a few bottles of beer at the apartment and a few drags on a cannabis joint."
The prosecution also asked the jury to think seriously about whether the accusers - who didn't know each other personally - were making the serious accusations for financial benefit.
Agnew later told the court that Spacey "abused the power and influence that his reputation and fame afforded him, taking advantage of his popularity and prominence, his illustriousness and influence. Taking what and who he wanted, when he wanted."
The four men have not been named and are legally entitled to lifelong anonymity as alleged victims of a sexual offense. As a result, it is a criminal offense for their names to be published anywhere.
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