Kevin Spacey Is The Latest Hollywood Star Accused Of Sexual Misconduct
Actor Anthony Rapp has accused Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct in 1986, when Rapp was only 14.
In an interview with Buzzfeed News, actor Anthony Rapp, best known for his role in "Rent" and "Star Trek: Discovery," alleged that Kevin Spacey made sexual advances towards him when he was just 14 years old in 1986. Spacey was 26.
Both actors were performing in Broadway shows during the time, and Spacey had invited the young teen to his apartment for a party.
According to Rapp, at the end of the night Spacey entered his bedroom, picked up him like a "groom picks up a bride," put him on the bed, and climbed on top of him.
Rapp told Buzzfeed, "He was trying to seduce me. I don't know if I would have used that language. But I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually."
Spacey, who's sexuality has often been gossiped about, officially came out on Twitter following the publication of the allegations.
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
Many people see Spacey's coming out as a way to deflect from the real story: not that he is a gay man, but that he made sexual advances towards a minor.
It seems that this meek apology and coming out has been crafted by Spacey and a PR team, who have handled rumors of the actor's sexuality for years, to switch the media's narrative from sexual misconduct of a minor to something that is supposed to be representative of an "inspiring" coming out story.
Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017
Numerous LGBTQ+ celebrities have come forward to share their view on Spacey's untimely coming out, as well as to reiterate that being homosexual does not conflate with pedophilia.
Just wanna be really fucking clear that being gay has nothing to do w/ going after underage folks
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) October 30, 2017
Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, said: "Coming out stories should not be used to deflect from allegations of sexual assault. This is not a coming out story about Kevin Spacey, but a story of survivorship by Anthony Rapp and all those who bravely speak out against unwanted sexual advances. The media and public should not gloss over that."
The classiest way to come out of the closet is as a PR smokescreen to distract people from the fact that you tried to molest a child.
— Guy Branum (@guybranum) October 30, 2017
People are also taking offense to Spacey's statement that he is choosing to live life as a gay man, on top of using it as a bizarre defense to these allegations.
No no no no no! You do not get to "choose" to hide under the rainbow! Kick rocks! https://t.co/xJDGAxDjxz
— Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) October 30, 2017
Nope to Kevin Spacey's statement. Nope. There's no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017
Hey @KevinSpacey you can choose to act like a pervert; you can't "choose" to be gay. 🤨🤦🏻♂️
— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) October 30, 2017
Spacey's coming out is a deliberate attempt to distract attention from Rapp's allegations, that has shocked and offended the gay community.
Rapp was inspired to finally speak out about Spacey following the numerous allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Harvey Weinstein and director James Toback. He told Buzzfeed, "There's so much more openness about talking about these issues, and so many people are coming forward and sharing their stories. The oxygen in the room is there for us to really do something about it."