Kevin Spacey can’t seem to catch a break. A New York judge just ruled that sealed depositions in an arbitration suit related to the actor’s behavior on the House of Cards set are fair game in an ongoing sexual assault lawsuit against him.
The two-time Oscar-winner saw his career crumble in 2017 when a series of former co-stars, students, and associates accused him of sexual misconduct. Amid the media outcry, Spacey also decided to finally come out of the closet as a gay man.
Spacey’s coming out only invited even more criticism, as LGBTQ activists accused him of trying to use his coming out to deflect against the charges of sexual misconduct. Spacey found himself fired from House of Cards, and in essence, became an industry pariah.
The ensuing years saw Spacey become the subject of various lawsuits, including a 2020 suit filed by Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp. Rapp is currently suing Spacey for sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress under the Child Victims Act. The suit, filed in New York, stems from an alleged incident in 1983 when Rapp, then 14, says Spacey, then 26, tried to have sex with him while he was intoxicated.
Related: Things are looking bleaker than ever for Kevin Spacey
Now Spacey has suffered a major blow in that case.
Page Six reports that Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in New York has ordered him to notify former cast and crew members of House of Cards that their identities and legal depositions could become public as a result of the case.
The depositions in question stem from arbitration unrelated to the suit filed by Rapp. In 2020, a court ordered Spacey to pay $20 million in restitution to MRC, the studio that produced House of Cards. Spacey was found to have violated the company’s anti-sexual harassment policies with at least eight crew members on the series.
One crew member alleged the actor would “greet them, shake their hand and pull their hand down to his crotch or touch their crotch.”
More than 20 depositions were conducted as part of the MRC arbitration. Judge Kaplan believes they could be relevant in the Rapp case in characterizing Spacey’s pattern of behavior.
“All of these witnesses allegedly expressed concern, directly or through counsel, that they might suffer if their names and their involvement in the arbitration were to become public,” Kaplan wrote in the order. “All allegedly received some assurances in that regard.”
The trial in Rapp’s case against Spacey will begin October 4.
friendlymcface
what a crusty old pig.
Polaro
What an ageist irrelevant comment.
miller2900
……friendlymcface, you gotta remember he wasn’t always “old”. The 14-year-old that is claiming sexual harassment was back when Spacey was only 24-years old. BTW “friendly”, might want to rethink throwing around the term “old” in derogatory terms as you won’t be a Twink the rest of your life. Careful what you spew, it might come back to haunt you one day when some Twink calls you an “OLD” man.
Kangol2
A twink or even someone a year or day younger than me can call me “old,” but a 24-year-old man should not be hopping on top of a 14-year-old. It’s indefensible and disgusting.
Polaro
Kang, you weren’t there, you don’t know. You also seem to have idealized teenagers into naive children, many aren’t. Rapp was on Broadway and partying with adults. Rapp was also irrelevant when he started complaining decades later and, oddly, is now back on TV.
There is no crime in hitting on a teenager, the crime is in doing something sexual with them, which did not happen with Rapp. By law, adults are required to resist underage sex even If the kid is up for it – its a bad idea and illegal. Had Kevin forced himself on Rapp after being rebuffed, it would have been rape. That isn’t what happened. Me? I’d have banged a 24 year old Spacey as a teen.
Has Kevin used his fame and power to coerce people into sex? I believe yes. Have people slept with Spacey to get ahead? Also yes. This shit is complicated. Acting like a prudish Victorian spinster isn’t helpful.
Fahd
Geez, this story leaves out the most important detail of this latest development in the case – the Judge was telling Spacey’s attorney this so that Spacey’s lawyers could inform the potentially affected witnesses and their lawyers of what was going on. This would allow the witnesses in the arbitration case to file a motion with the current court to block the disclosure of their testimonies.
The Page Six story referenced above reports that important detail.
It’s not like the court is just going to let the names be revealed without giving the affected individuals a chance to make a case for not doing so.
Not the best reporting, Mr. Reddish.
G-Man
It’s just amazing that these people think they can do whatever they want to whomever and get away with. He’s lucky he didn’t get punched in the face.
bachy
I wonder if social theorists studying the #METOO movement have uncovered the variables that distinguish same-sex and opposite-sex assault/battery/misconduct. I have my doubts that they exhibit exactly the same dynamics, and I’m curious to know if/how they differ.
Polaro
No one really wants to apply science or facts to the me too movement, that would be inconvenient and open all sorts of cans of worms. They prefer to make it like calling someone a witch in the 1600s. Once accused you’re screwed.
The underlying issue of power and money to force people into sexual or other nefarious situations has always been problem and needs to be addressed. #metoo betrays that.
Jaquelope
Let me get this straight (if you’ll pardon the term) but the ones who gave depositions in a totally different case were promised that they wouldn’t be “outed to the public” are now basically being thrown under a bus now, and their names and identities will be revealed? I certainly hope they got that promise in writing.
The judge who gave the ruling might need to be scrutinized more than just a bit, too. Sounds like there may be a bit of animosity towards Mr. Spacey from the judge.
Polaro
So, Rapp goes to an adult party with other Broadway actors. People are drinking. Rapp hangs out until he’s the last person there and goes into the bedroom with his gay, drunk host. He’s either the stupidest person alive, or looking to jumpstart his dead career and get a paycheck. Had Spacey had sex with him, Rapp would have an argument for statutory rape, but that didn’t happen. I’ve met Rapp, he’s a dick. Yeah, I’ve picked a side on this one.
inbama
I haven’t been 14 for a long, long while, but I do remember initiating seductions I wasn’t ready for and then chickening out.
It doesn’t let Spacey off the hook. He seems to exhibit a common closet queen behavior where the stress of having a secret life leads to episodes of getting drunk and grabbing anything within reach.
Polaro
@inbama, I understand your point and agree, which is why adults should reject the notion. There are real problems with Mr. Spacey’s behavior, we agree. I think the Rapp incident could have gone very wrong, but it didn’t. Nothing actually happened.
Terrycloth
I liked Rapp in the Elizabeth Shue Comedy Adventures in Babysitting..I’ve probably seen.him.in other movies and not know it or remember.
I thought he was a character actor.
johncp56
I was out at 14 and did things with bud before,, I never did anything to someone other than consensual, and played with older but rare back when I was young, I can understand someone in their early 20s being intilled back then, wrong as it is but wrong and a minor wrong,,,, why was this kid at an after-hours party where are the parents
BoomerMyles
I look forward to the day Hollywood welcomes back Spacey. Heck, they eventually gave Polanski an Oscar.
barryaksarben
Watch Polanski – wanted and desired the doc proves that the judge i that case went against an very real deal the DA came up with (not polanskis people) and that Polanski served time in prison ( a real prison) and was put in a position no one would think fair. The judge agreed to the deal but then he went agaisnt it in court to get shocking headline. THe DA was surprised and shocked the judge did this. The so called victim was on the documentary saying he should be free from further prosecution. LEARN WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
barryaksarben
I was sexually active at 15 and back in the 80s if you were underage and partying in NYC – WHERE WERE THEIR PARENTS? there was no rape ever here . There was inappropriate (maybe ) touching. I knew at 13 how to reject unwanted advances even if I had a few beers and I was in freakin IOWA. Rapp is blowing this out of proportion. All the suits against Spacey have failed as they have no merit. That other one was even worse. A kid used fake id to get into the bar and had no problem with being gropped til hegot home and hsi anti gay mother found out then all of a sudden it was rape. BS