Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp and an anonymous plaintiff have filed a joint civil lawsuit against Kevin Spacey over alleged sexual assault and misconduct that took place in the 1980s. Both Rapp and the other plaintiff say they were aged 14 at the times of the alleged incidents.
Rapp’s allegations against Spacey are well known, and after they first surfaced in a Buzzfeed interview in October 2017, led to Spacey’s career downfall.
Rapp says that when he was 14 and appearing in a play in New York City, he attended a party at Spacey’s apartment. He says Spacey, then aged 26, made unwanted sexual advances toward him, including touching his butt, laying on top of him in a bed and making it clear that he was interested in having sex with him.
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Spacey responded on Twitter, saying he did not remember the encounter, was “beyond horrified to hear his story” and “if I did behave then as he [Rapp] describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.” Spacey also took the opportunity to come out as gay.
Spacey subsequently lost his role on House of Cards and has largely withdrawn from public life.
The lawsuit, filed yesterday, says Rapp, “sustained psychological injuries, including but not limited to, severe emotional distress, humiliation, fright, anger, depression and anxiety; a severe shock to his nervous system; and has been caused to suffer mental anguish, emotional and psychological damage as a result thereof, and, upon information and belief, some or all of these injuries are of a permanent and lasting nature.”
The second plaintiff, referred to only as “C.D”, claims he engaged in oral and anal sex with Spacey in the early 1980s.
He says he met Spacey in 1981 when he was just 12, at an acting class Spacey was giving. He ran into him again a couple of years later in New York City, and Spacey invited him to his apartment. It says, “Spacey engaged in sexual acts with the plaintiff, C.D … including, but not limited to, the infant plaintiff performing anal intercourse on the defendant Spacey and oral sex.”
It also alleges sexual battery, saying Spacey also tried to sodomize the 14-year-old plaintiff without consent, but the boy resisted the attempt.
Both men are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages from Spacey. The lawsuit was filed under New York’s 2019 Child Victims Act, which allows people to bring a lawsuit regardless of when the childhood-related allegations took place.
Lawyer Peter Saghir, representing Rapp and the other plaintiff, said in a statement, “This lawsuit sends a strong message that no matter how wealthy, powerful or famous you may be you are not above the law. Our clients are looking forward to their day in Court and to obtaining justice for a crime that never should have happened.”
Spacey has not issued any response to the latest lawsuit.
After Rapp came forward with his allegations against Spacey, several other men also made accusations of sexual misconduct against the actor. Two men launched lawsuits which were subsequently dismissed in court or dropped last year. One plaintiff declined to testify when the case reached court and the other died ahead of his case reaching court. Spacey had defended himself against those charges.
Related: One month after expressing concern for his safety, Kevin Spacey’s accuser suddenly dies
toronto
In the 1980’s? This guy needs to let it go.
Cam
Please detail out the exact amount of time that needs to pass before a victim shouldn’t be allowed to be effected anymore.
curiobi
Really, so by that rational, there should be a statue of limitations on murder, right? If it happened in the 1980s the surviviors family should stop seeking justice and just get over it.
Your comment makes no sense, Rapp has talked about what happened to him more than once over the past 20 years, and it is clear he was traumatised by it.
And he is not the only one, this was clearly a pattern of abusing minors. We are talking about children who were sexually abused, and judging by the injury part in Rapp’s claim, assaulted as well.
Do you think that laws against abusing minors don’t apply if it happened in the 80s?
-Just STFU! Instead of supporting Rapp, the victim, you are saying he should get over it. WHY should he? His abuser has been Scott free for decades because no one would listen to Rapp, and there was no legal recourse. Now there is, and the 14 year old version of Rapp absolutely deserves his day in court!
The_Roxxtar
@curiobi You’re comparing apples and oranges. A murder case wouldn’t have a statue of limitations if they hadn’t found the criminal… In this case, the victim is very much aware who the criminal is and could’ve filed suit along time ago. I’m not saying he can’t now, just that your comparison example is terrible.
Cam
“”Rapp’s allegations against Spacey are well known, and after they first surfaced in a Buzzfeed interview in October 2017, led to Spacey’s career downfall.””
_________________________________
Not true, Rapp first gave an interview and named Spacey in the year 2000 during an interview with “The Advocate”. He detailed what happened. The Advocate censored out Spacey’s name because they didn’t want to “Out” Spacey according to their comment. So Rapp told his story 20 years ago. People just didn’t listen.
JB
Where were the parents of these kids at the time? What kind of parent would allow a 14-year-old to attend a party at a 26-year-old’s house? Not victim shaming. But, yes, I am parent shaming.
Cam
Apparently it was a cast party for the play they were in. Not a house party.
Chrisk
I remember going to see the movie adventures in babysitting and Rapp might have been 14 but looked 10. Then you realize this was the piece of ass Spacey was trying to get his hands on. Yikes.
Joshooeerr
The party was a post-theatre event, so quite late at night. Rapp stayed after everyone else left. And he joined Spacey in his bedroom. His own account makes it fairly clear that at the time he was more than happy to be there and Spacey didn’t force him into anything. Freak out about him being under-age if you’re that hopelessly naive, but there are a lot of horny 14-year-olds who know exactly what they’re doing. I would have been one of them. Sure, legally Spacey is entirely to blame. But Rapp re-casting his 14-year-old self as a naive victim is pretty disingenuous.
Chrisk
Well, Spacey’s worth 100 million so there’s plenty there to sue for.
There’s a Hollywood rule or at least should be. Don’t shit where you eat or don’t rape other celebrities. Be smart like Bryan Singer and the other hollywood pedo ring members.
LumpyPillows
Technically nothing criminal happened to Rapp that is enforceable now – I guess you could say it was physical assault, which is way too old. I’ve met Rapp and I’m not fond of him, btw, so I take his carping with a grain of salt. Rapp is a dick to normal people, which seems to be an issue these days. Not sure why he persists on this since he really doesn’t have much to complain about. He said NO, and left. Every one of us has been there.
C.D. falls into the statutory rape category. It sure seems C.D. was into it until the tables were turned, which is a conundrum. Regardless, still statutory rape if true, and I have no reason to not believe this is true based on Spacey’s known behaviors.
Cam
It’s cute how you say nothing technically happened to Rapp, then admit it was an assault. But apparently it doesn’t count, because you claim you don’t like him.
Then you go on to victim blame in the next post and claim that the 14 year old was into it.
So let’s see, Rapp shouldn’t get justice even though he’s been telling the same story for 20 years, because you claim you don’t like him, and apparently a rape victim was “Asking for it”.
Terrycloth
Rappers claimed he had pictures on his phone in court..yet his mother had his phone and deleted all the.photos..the court demanded they turn over the phone..they claimed they didnt have it anymore..case was dropped
Cam
Except you’re lying. When Rapp was attacked there weren’t cellphones, much less cellphones with cameras.
But the fact that you would make up such an obviously false story to defend Spacey shows us your agenda.
Chrisk
Wow. I didn’t realize the cellphones in the 80s had those abilities. Lol
barryaksarben
you have him confused with the young man that accused him of grabbing his penis at a bar where the kid was let in underage and Spacey didnt know it. The kids mother was a local newswoman and that wherre the phone incident happened. another kid altogether
BoomerMyles
Face it, 14 year olds (especially gay guys) are pretty sexually aware. I would have been very aroused at 14 if a 26 year old man showed interest in me.
It was probably some of the best sex Rapp ever had but then felt shame from internalized homophobia.
Cam
Wow, the Spacey Troll account sure has come in here with multiple names, and now says that Rapp was “asking for it”.
Amazing how the pedophile defenders always paint the rapists as the victim and the kids as the evil aggressors.
By the way. This is Rapps playbill photo at the time Spacey went for him. Why don’t you take a look at him explain to us how Rapp is the aggressor in all of this. He looks like he’s about 9.
Link below, I added in spaces so Queerty wouldn’t screen it.
https: //imgur .com/r/The_Donald/cTvkJIM
barryaksarben
I am not dismissing Mr Rapp’s feelings but as an older gay man who was physically beaten at 13 for just appearing gay. I had not hit puberty but that didnt matter in my small IOWA town. I would not dismiss a sexual assault like rape or groping of the penis but having your butt cupped or being held on a bed with no injuries I fail to see how this could be truamatising. Being beaten was and it happened more than once. I was held down to be beaten not played with.
jonchavez2003
Well there was no sex. Spacey picked him up and placed him on the bed and drunkenly landed on him. Rapp wiggled his way out from under him and went to the bathroom and then left. Done. I wouldn’t even call that assault. He was already sitting on the bed watching TV NOTHING HAPPENED
frapachino
Financial shakedown, shame on these guys!
jonchavez2003
Exactly. Nothing happened. Good lord.
Cam
So now we see that you will defend bigoted Republicans and pedophiles.
Sounds about right.
LumpyPillows
@cam dick.
Cam
@LumpyPillows
LOL! You forgot to switch back to your other screename troll! LOL!!!
That’s about the 4th time this month you’ve done that.
jaimedance3
1980’s And Anthony Rapp You Are Gay Yourself So How Much Is This For Publicity For You Being On The New Star Trek Show ~ I Mean Come On Any Gay Male In Their Right Mind Would Want To Have Sex With Kevin Spacey Who Is Also Gay! I Sure Do Even NOW! I Myself, Have Never Heard Of Gay Guys Sexually Assaulting Another Gay Guy. You Would Have Been In Your Teens And I Know As A Gay Male In My Teens I Constantly Wanted Sex With Other Older Guys Since We Are Only 1 Year Apart Anthony ~
Cam
Another pro pedophile troll.
controversial2019
Comments like this do not help those of us who try and provide balanced, thought-out responses 🙁
1. I’ve never been sexually attracted to Spacey
2. If you’ve never heard of a gay guy sexually attacking another gay guy then i feel you maybe need to broaden your news sources as it really DOES happen and it would be naive to assume that only heterosexuals sexually abuse each other and that LGBTQ+ folk are incapable of it
3. I’m sure most of us, in our teens, were horny and found many older men attractive; their “experience” being enticing, but likewise I’m sure most of us had “standards” (shallow or not) and didn’t want any and every older man to place his hands on us – and so it’s not unreasonable to believe that Rapp wouldn’t have wanted sexual contact with/from Kevin.
Kangol2
Spacey is repellent and I would not want to have sex with him at any age, his or mine. I don’t know anyone else who would either. He sounds like a total creep, and he’s paying the price for his past bad behavior. He’s also a millionaire who had years of success, so I can’t don’t think there’s a groundswell of sympathy, except for a few on here, for him either.
MacAdvisor
New York State, where Rapp suggests the offense took place and, given the suit has a co-plaintiff, the incident for that case also had to take place there, criminalizes a wide range of conduct constituting “sexual abuse.” It is generally defined as subjecting another person to sexual contact without the latter’s consent. New York Penal Code Section 130(3) further defines “sexual contact” to include “any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party,” and touching of the actor by the victim, as well as the touching of the victim by the actor, whether directly or through clothing.
Rapp’s allegation is Spacey grabbed him and through him on the bed. Spacey also laid upon Rapp. Rapp does not claim Spacey touched any intimate part of him directly, so we are left with touching indirectly through clothes while Spacey was on top of Rapp. There isn’t any claim Spacey’s hand touched Rapp in an intimate area through the clothing, so we are left with Spacey touching rap through his own clothing and then through Rapp’s clothing and for sexual gratification. A jury might conclude that, but it seems a bridge too far to me. That means Rapp is left with civil battery, or unwanted touching, for which the statute of limitations has long since expired. Moreover, I think the doctrine of laches could well apply as Rapp has been talking about the incident for some time without taking any legal action. Given this, I don’t think Rapp has a big payout in his future.
I don’t know enough specifics about the co-plaintiff’s allegations to formulate an opinion. I tried to find the Complaint on line, but couldn’t find it.
controversial2019
Very informative – interesting to read!
jonchavez2003
Here…
Rapp recalled this all happening — Spacey appearing at the door, coming into the room, picking him up, and putting him on the bed — in one clumsy action, with Spacey landing at a slight angle on top of him. He said Spacey “was, like, pressing into me,” and that he remembers Spacey “tightening his arms.” But while he can’t recall exactly how long Spacey remained on top of him, Rapp said he was able to “squirm” away after a short period.
controversial2019
The allegations may be true.
The allegations may be false.
The allegations may be a combination of the two (misremembered and/or embellished).
In any case, let’s not forget “innocent until proven guilty”.
I’m sure every commenter on here would complain (internally or publicly) if an allegation was made against them and they consequently became shunned and ostracised despite no proof or conviction. We would all say “it’s a bit unfair of anyone to automatically disbelieve me and condemn me without my day in court to defend myself”.
So – lets treat others how we would wish to be treated; innocent until proven guilty.
Cam
It’s funny how all of the right wing troll accounts that lash out and attack LGBTQ people are so quick to always defend bigots and pedophiles.
And sweetie, “Innocent until proven guilty” is for court and jail sentences. It doesn’t mean that people with eyes and ears don’t get to form an opinion.
Oh, and by the way, you seem to keep forgetting that Netflix did it’s own internal review, as did a theater Spacey worked in in London and /BOTH concluded that he had committed acts requiring them to fire the guy.
But nice to see that multiple Republican trolls on here are SO invested in helping out a child predator.
MacAdvisor
This is a civil matter, that standard is not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, nor is one entitled to a presumption of innocence. In a civil suit, the plaintiff must plead and prove all causes of action by a preponderance of the evidence, that is, what the plaintiff suggests is more likely to be true than not true, even if the likelihood is just a scintilla more. I think Rapp is believable and I believe what he says. The question is more if Rapp is suggesting Spacey touched him in a private place (as opposed to all over).
justgeo
Spacey always gave me the creeps. He does play ‘wierd’ FU’d folks well. I kinda feel sorry for the dude!
controversial2019
@Cam
I worry about you and your repetitive brain.
Why do you think that every person who dares to have an opinion different to yours is automatically “a right wing troll”? Do you not realise that with more than 7bn people on the planet, there are going to be a fair few people who don’t share your opinion?
Your intimidation techniques do not work.
Us Brits don’t get silenced by online trolls. And that’s actually what YOU are Cam. Every time you attack someone for their opinion on an article, that is YOU being a troll. That is the definition of troll behaviour; attacking someone online because of something they post. Users on here give an opinion, you disagree, and you start attacking them. That. Is. Trolling.
You also don’t seem to read what people say and/or take things on board, because I’ve seen you call people a troll for ONE comment in ONE article (that you don’t agree with), despite those same users having commented on other articles with the same opinion as you. But you ignore that and see an opinion you don’t like and scream “troll”. Take a look in the mirror, “sweetie”.
It’s a shame there’s no “report user” button because Queerty would see my comments as calm, impersonal, explained – whilst yours are nothing more than personal attacks. For shame
LumpyPillows
Exactly. He’s insufferable.
Cam
@controversial2019
Translation: You got mad that I pointed out how young Rapp was, and the fact that Netflix and the Theater in London where Spacey worked BOTH did investigations of Spacey and BOTH determined he was sexually harassing ad assaulting employees and both fired him.
Also, if you’re going to lash out, you may want to change up your style. All of your screenames use the same writing style.
Vince
@controversial2019
Wow. You put allot of thought into that. Cam must have really pissed you off somewhere before. Lol
frapachino
She’s a typical Marxist bully!
frapachino
She is an absolute whack job and spends what too much time in here attacking everyone!
NateOcean
“Spacey engaged in sexual acts with the plaintiff, C.D … including, but not limited to, the infant plaintiff performing anal intercourse on the defendant Spacey and oral sex.”
Is there a specific legal reason that the word “infant” is used here?
Toofie
I don’t know what Rapp intends to get from this. It’ll be impossible to prove. Spacey’s career has been permanently flushed.
dustychiffon
The problem I see here is it’s simply a matter of he said-he said.
Rapp and CD are going to have to prove something without a reasonable doubt, and Kevin is going to say that none of this is true.
Kevin’s attorneys are most likely going to paint them as opportunists who are out for a paycheck.
For events this old, it’s an uphill battle for Rapp and CD to prove to a jury without a reasonable doubt.
What makes me sad is I actually really enjoy seeing Spacey act. He’s really good, like him or not. And I’m just upset that he was so stupid and perverted to ruin it for us all who enjoyed him on screen.
GayEGO
Gee, when I was 12 or 14 I would not have gone to a “Spacey Party” because I knew there may be some activity that I would not like as it is private stuff!