When I posted my thoughts on Kevin Spacey earlier this week the wounds were still fresh. The news had only broken a couple of days earlier and my disappointment was very real. I will admit that finding out that a man I respected greatly could act in such a despicable manner made me angry. And I felt the need to vent some of that frustration. However, since Wednesday I have had more time to think about it and dig deeper into the situation. It has led me to this conclusion. Kevin Spacey is still an asshole.
Let me explain. I think it is important to have a full understanding of Kevin Spacey’s statement on the allegations which read as follows:
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I’m beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.
“This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. I know that there are stories out there about me and that some have been fueled by the fact that I have been so protective of my privacy. As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behavior.
– Kevin Spacey”
I am sorry people. But I cannot for one second understand someone who is truly innocent releasing a statement like that. If it were me in the situation, and I knew I was innocent, I would be shouting from the tallest rooftop that my accuser is a lying bastard. I would be livid and militantly defensive. But as you can see above his reaction is totally the opposite. He uses some lame ass excuses like not remembering the incident and inappropriate drunken behavior, BUT then apologises in case he did do it. I am sorry, I just don’t buy it. In my opinion he either knows its true or has irrefutable evidence that it happened. Simple as that.
I also have to take Kevin to task about the somewhat calculated and insensitive revelation of his homosexuality. They were the actions of an egotistical and selfish man. He was either trying to deflect from the fact that he forced himself on a 14 year old boy. Or was more concerned with people knowing his sexual orientation and what that might do to his perceived image. As a matter of fact to some extent his strategy worked. In the day following the original breaking story there were more headlines regarding him coming out as a gay man than there were about him sexually abusing a child. Incredible.
For the record, since my last article on the subject earlier this week there has been several more allegations made. Roberto Cavazos is a Mexican actor. He acted in several plays at London’s Old Vic Theater, where Spacey served as artistic director between 2004 and 2015. Cavazos alleged that Spacey “routinely preyed” on young male actors and added that “a lot of us have a Kevin Spacey story”. Cavazos confirmed that he fended off two “unpleasant” advances from Spacey that “bordered on sexual harassment”.
In the most recent of news, eight employees of the hit TV show House of Cards have accused Kevin Spacey of Sexual Misconduct. They claim he created a “toxic” work environment through a pattern of sexual harassment and assault. It was also confirmed on Friday that Kevin Spacey is under investigation by Scotland Yard. Allegations have been made by a British actor that he “woke up to Spacey performing a sex act on him”. Am I confused or would this be considered rape?
As you can see the pattern that is emerging is that of a sexual predator who has be at this for a very, very long time. We can expect a lot more stories and allegations to avail themself as the days, weeks and months roll on. We have not heard the end of this one.
It still amazes me what a world we live in. Where a man with a talent that borders on genius, a man who has given pleasure to many through theatrical magnificence, actually turns out to be a monster.
I will allow you to now draw your own conclusions.
In a statement released by his publicist Kevin Spacey is taking the necessary time to seek evaluation and treatment. A bit late me thinks…
*** If you would like to read some of the latest news, please refer to the following links.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/03/scotland-yard-investigating-kevin-spacey-claim-british-actor/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/arts/kevin-spacey-treatment-old-vic.html
Actors lie by profession so leading a double life comes easy to them. Personally I try to separate artists from their art. Mel Gibson has often produced good work but he’s a nut case, same with Tom Cruise. The movie industry is rotten but we all love it.
I am not sure that we should paint them all with the same brush here, but certainly there are cases no doubt. I think it is not about the industry per se, but more about the power and more importantly the abuse of it.
Yeah. I recently saw ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ – great film! Pity I then found out it was directed by Mel Gibson. It somewhat makes it hard for me to feel the same way about it.
I think Netflix made the right decision to distance themselves from Spacey. He is another great treasure that has now been revealed as sour. Id the business continue to employ these people, they only serve to excuse the behavior.
I’m not sure I fully agree. What he did is despicable. But I’m not going to be the one to throw stones especially to someone who has apologized for what he has done.
I know it is controversial but I believe that everyone deserves forgiveness if they are willing to humble themselves and ask for it. I know I’ve needed plenty of forgiveness in my life. I don’t believe that there is an unforgivable crime.
Of course, an apology may not be of much use to the victims of the crime but the concept of non-forgiveness is repulsive to me.
Good comment Eric. But i am not sure it is entirely about forgiveness here.
The fact that you are willing to forgive shows the type of person you are and I applaud that. But it is about accountability also. His apology was weak and calculated by my perception. And again this is just my opinion. Also the fact that it seems this has been a recurring theme for over 30 years means to me there needs to be some kind of accountability. For me that is no longer following the career of a man that previously I was a big fan of.
I think forgiveness is another argument altogether. He has done nothing to me personally so I have nothing to forgive him for. It is the people who he has affected directly that must decide that.
Eric, if a mere apology can be used as a ‘get out of jail free card’ then no, I completely disagree with your statement.
No unforgivable crimes? Woah…Someone who takes and destroys lives on a whim? Serial rapists and peadophiles? Mate, there are some crimes which come with life sentences for a reason. It isn’t about forgiveness, its about protecting society.
After reading a lot myself about the subject, I have to say you were right the first time Oz. Too many accusations are now thrown at him to deny the obvious. He IS an asshole and we’ll have to wait what will happen at a legal point of view. There is no need to see what will happen carrier wise as his is already on the rocks and probably deservedly so.
The fact is that there are so many accusations thrown around now that I have one simple question. How can it be that in such a liberal place as Hollywood, all this went unreported for so many years?
Pity. Hopefully the new generation of men (because they are always men, isn’t it?) in Hollywood are more human and less pigs.