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Seth MacFarlane reveals the story behind 'Family Guy's' Kevin Spacey sexual misconduct joke

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Now that 2017 is finally over, it's evident that it will be remembered for being the year where public consciousness grew about cases of sexual harassment and abuse. And as we all know, it was The New York Times' explosive exposé on the now-disgraced film-mogul, Harvey Weinstein, which provoked a domino effect, emboldening victims of all walks of life to come forward to share their own experiences. One of the biggest names to be affected by this maelstrom is Kevin Spacey. The American Beauty actor has been accused of sexually harassing numerous men. The initial claim was made by actor, Anthony Rapp, who was only 14-years-old at the time. Rapp, who is known for his role in Star Trek: Discovery, asserted that Spacey climbed on top of him and attempted to make advances before he was eventually able to "wriggle free". Since then, at least 15 other men have come forward to report similar things. Victims include British barman Daniel Beal, actor Roberto Cavazos, filmmaker and director, Tony Montana as well as a member of Norway's royal family. And now, it appears that Seth MacFarlane has become embroiled in the scandal. The creator of the animated television series, Family Guy, has brushed off the rumour that he knew of the sexual harassment allegations against Kevin Spacey, despite choosing to include a joke about such rumours in an episode of Family Guy, that was broadcast over a decade ago. In an episode of Family Guy which aired in 2005, the character Stewie is seen running naked through a shopping centre. He shouts, "Help! I've escaped from Kevin Spacey's basement!” During a Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour panel, MacFarlane responded to the suggestion that the production team of the television series was aware of Spacey's history of sexual misconduct, 10 years prior to the news breaking. "I don’t remember who pitched the joke," he said. "I remember when it was pitched… that was a rumour I had actually not heard and other people in the writers’ room had. And it had to be sort of explained to me: ‘Oh, there’s this rumour that’s going on.'" [[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVIU7iEVl58]] Producer Alec Sulkin then attempted to explain the context of the now-infamous episode.
"I think that that was something where [Spacey] was coming off a story where he had been kind of beaten up in a London park, and he claimed that he was walking his dog late at night and fell, and I think that raised a lot of eyebrows. It’s one of the things in terms of standards where if they heard the rumors, as we have, then they’ll allow it."
Kevin Spacey incited further criticism for the way in which he responded to the claims. He posted an apology on Twitter, stating that he didn't remember the incident, all the while denouncing it as "inappropriate drunken behaviour".
And in the same note, the House of Cards actor announced that he'd officially come out - saying that he now chooses to "live as a gay man". It was largely regarded as a calculated, albeit transparent, PR move.