Kevin Spacey acquitted of sex assault charges in the UK Published By Tribute on Jul 26, 2023

Facing nine charges of sexual assault that had him facing a potential life sentence, Kevin Spacey broke down in tears after the verdict was read.

After two days of deliberation, the jury came back with a verdict on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, declaring Spacey not guilty of all charges against him in the United Kingdom. The trial began four weeks ago at the Southwark Crown Court in London, as the alleged incidents occurred in London and Gloucestershire between 2001 and 2013.

Spacey was accused by four men of acts including sexual assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity. Three of these alleged incidents took place at the London Old Vic theater while Spacey was working as the Artistic Director, and the fourth at Spacey’s London apartment.

Tried under his full name, Kevin Spacey Fowler, the actor claimed two of these accounts took place in consensual relationships between both parties; one was a “clumsy pass” for which he apologized, and he completely denied the fourth claim. Spacey considers himself a "promiscuous flirt" who had "casual, indiscriminate sexual encounters."

Spacey said in a press statement after the trial wrapped: "I imagine that many of you can understand that there’s a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. But I would like to say that I am enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached the decision. And I am humbled by the outcome today. I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security and all those who took care of us every single day, my legal team … for being here every day and that’s all I have to say for the moment. Thank you very much."

These were not the first claims against Spacey. He was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2017 by actor Anthony Rapp, but in 2022 a New York jury found Spacey not liable. Another claim arose in 2018, in which Spacey was charged with indecent assault and battery in Massachusetts over allegations he groped an 18-year-old male at a bar two years prior. The witness failed to testify, leading the charge to be dropped. A third allegation was made by a massage therapist in California, but when the alleged victim had passed away, the charge was dismissed.

Spacey is an Academy Award-winning actor, taking home the Best Actor award in 2000 for the film American Beauty (1999). Following the allegations in 2017, Spacey was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards and spent several years unemployed, until he was hired for the 2022 Italian film The Man Who Drew God ( L'uomo che disegnò Dio). He also plays Gore Vidal in the upcoming biopic Gore. ~Ireland Fidale

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Comments & Discussion

Terry - 7/27/2023 10:26:56 AM

Yep -- If you've got lots of money & fame you can get away with anything!!! NINE charges brought against him ---- not just one!!! All NINE accusers were lying no doubt.. And he only got away with previous allegations with kids in the past because one of them was too intimidated to appear in court so it was thrown out --- and the other person had died along the way so that charge was dismissed. So in view of this, the Law considers that it never happened. Justice is a joke!!! At least there is "some" comfort in knowing that his career has been practically annihilated. He deserves to be banned totally from Hollywood or making any future films ---- any future films by this moron should be boycotted. Also --- WHY -- has it taken since 2001 to get this pervert brought to court??? Anybody else in the unfamous community would be hauled up within a year --- or two at the very most.
Bob - 7/27/2023 10:34:49 AM

Not a big surprise. Rich and famous people get away with murder and in this case sexually assaulting 4 men. Our country's law system is based on how rich you are and not justice. And its not surprising that some people take the law into their own hands since the law fails to defend them.
A.E. Olson - 7/27/2023 11:45:50 AM

I am not gay. I don't understand it but I have friends who are. What is acceptable and what is not is beyond my understanding of the gay community. What I do see is that a lot of high profile people are being accused of a lot of inappropriate behaviour. Some of it is unacceptable and should be reported and dealt with. In some cases, I believe it is a case of let's get the b.......s/he has lots of money or it's a way to gain notoriety or revenge because some one didn't get what s/he wanted.. In the "good old days" a good swift kick in the right place was sufficient. I still remember a book written in the '70s. The name I have forgotten. (Daisy Chain?) In it was a story about a man who made it his mission to bed every female employee. When one woman refused, he told every one he had. When the woman was asked, she said, "yewe tried but his eneresis(?) (Bed wetting) got in the way." He was laughed at so much he finally quit his job There were other goodies in the book on how to deal with M.C.P.s but that's the one I remember best.
Terry - 7/27/2023 12:17:05 PM

Hey A.E. Olson -- I've got a box of rocks I could sell you for cheap!! ESPECIALLY if you really believe this spaced out Spacey was simply a case of ---- Let's get him cuz he's rich!! Give your head a good shake!!! You're obviously not with the times of the new century. The way we deal with people today is NOT by assaulting them with "a kick in the right place". And -- as far as not knowing what is or is not acceptable within the Gay Community --- OMG -- are you for real??? It's the same as it is within any other Community --- you need a CONSENTING adult, no matter what your fantasies are!!! You also need a consenting --- repeat ---- ADULT --- not a child, or a youth barely starting to shave. I'm sure you're more than way old enough to know what this one means " Wake up and smell the coffee"!!! No --- maybe you should just get yourself informed, or go back to sleep.
E.D. - 7/27/2023 12:46:21 PM

Thatâ€™s horribly disappointing and kind of enraging the creep got away with it all. I for one will NEVER watch or rewatch another film heâ€™s in EVER again. Shame on the people who are hiring or working with this piece of crap at this point. Itâ€™s obvious he got away with it due to having money, as it sickeningly goes. Shame on the judge and lawyer too. â€œPromiscuous flirtsâ€ donâ€™t get 9 different charges against them! That term just makes light and laughs at the people he violated. Why the hell was Elton John defending that? Shame on him too. In that situation the driver who spoke out could have easily gotten the date wrong as it happened awhile back. Kevin Spacey belongs in a garbage can.
CDubya - 7/27/2023 8:14:14 PM

It is odd that he was accused this many times and found not guilty, someone failed to testify and another died?! Talk about having a golden horseshoe. Dude is a good actor and you can't take that away from him, and even though he was found not guilty, I do want to think the jury did their jobs honestly. Sure he might have $, but it's not like they were bribed or will see a dime of it so these comments that the rich get away with this crap is out in left field. The case was real and real lives were in the balance. If he actually did that stuff, I really want to think the jury looked at all testimony and evidence and came to their verdict honourably. BUT, to me, all this controversy does knock him down a few notches on my list of actors I even care to see on the screen or definitely not in real life. His image is destroyed.
LD - 7/27/2023 8:24:49 PM

In the "Me Too" movement there seems to be 2 well situations in which people have felt abused by power. Those held captive, sexually abused peeps often too young to self-advocate or folks making ends meet on jobs; and the other situation where grown adults doggedly pursue rich people for help in getting projects funded. Putting themselves in harms way with sexual perpetrators or strangers. It is unkind and unfair if you want to become more famous, rich or that you feel that your creative magic needs to be seen by the masses, so that you put yourself in harms way with untrustworthy people who do not care about your feelings. For those people, I would recommend putting personal safety first; creative dream projects or goals second. Developing coalitions to support ousting the offender rather than individually seeing what you can get. I don't know enough about the KS situation. He is a talented actor. Don't go near him after work or at parties, unless you can scare him.
Rick - 7/28/2023 8:53:06 AM

To CDubya....Money can buy you the best lawyers that are very good at manipulating juryâ€™s opinions and what evidence is presented in court. And as you said, heâ€™s a good actor so it wouldnâ€™t be very difficult to act innocent in front of the jury. Making them believe heâ€™s innocent. And donâ€™t forget that being a famous actor he may be loved by many, including the jury, that already formed an opinion of his innocence before they sat down in the jury box and before the trial started. Weâ€™re not talking about 1 man accusing him but 4 men. And if there are so many, there might be more men out there he assaulted but they refuse to come forward because they feel shame and donâ€™t want anyone to know. Since these 4 men didnâ€™t get any justice I hope his career is finished.
Bob - 7/29/2023 2:25:47 PM

Maybe so. Maybe not. I trust the system enough (not a lot) to think that the jury was paid off. Given the prejudice against men who have sex with me, I'd say there was an assumption that he WAS guilty "because all them queers are dirty you know." Still. . . . . .they (mostly straight I expect) jurors said not guilty. Really? He fooled them all? Really? Bob
Terry - 7/31/2023 11:29:54 AM

chrismarlowe if you do have or ever have children I hope at least one of them is homosexual. You need a very rude awakening!! Obviously you've never figured it out but nothing in Life is black & white and there are many more different kinds of ice cream other than vanilla whether you like those other kinds or not. Most of us humans would prefer it if everything in life was this way or that way but that isn't realistic --- it just isn't what life is about. That little much loved baby you hold, or may someday hold in your arms is a human being -- and possibly even a future faggot or lesbian --- or a tranny. I'm sure you will feel very comfortable with all the hatred you have for it.
CDubya - 7/31/2023 11:39:45 AM

@chrismarlowe - geez, who hurt you? What anyone sans hetero does behind closed doors, or even kissing or holding hands in public does not hurt you at all. Might make you feel queezy in the stomach or be an "assault on the eyes" (Says a homophone person I heard once), or maybe you're in denial because it makes you feel funny below the belt ;) Grow up. Live and let live.
rick meade - 8/1/2023 12:48:09 PM

well they still wont let him remake follow me boys oropen a chinees resteraunt called sum like young guys
rick meade - 8/1/2023 1:08:41 PM

not guilty kevin spacey next he will start singing where the boys are someone waits for him nows hes free

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