During Kevin Spacey's London trial, one of the accusers recounted the alleged groping incident involving the "House of Cards" actor. Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to charges including sexual assault, indecent assault, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. These charges arise from accusations made by four men.
The witness testified that Spacey directed sexually and racially charged remarks at him before allegedly groping him. The accuser described feeling uncomfortable but hesitant to provoke Spacey. He characterized the alleged groping as aggressive and forceful, likening it to a "cobra" strike rather than a caress. He shared the incident with a friend a week later but refrained from broader disclosure until speaking with the police.
Although relieved to have reported the incident, the accuser expressed lingering reservations about speaking out against the prominent actor. Five years ago, he reported the alleged assault to authorities despite concerns that his account might be dismissed in favor of the "golden boy" of Hollywood.
During opening statements, prosecutors described Spacey as a "sexual bully" who disregards personal boundaries and derives pleasure from making others uneasy. They alleged his typical assault method involved aggressively grabbing men in the crotch. Spacey's defense attorney, Patrick Gibbs, maintained Spacey's denial of all non-consensual acts and urged jurors to critically evaluate the evidence. Gibbs also suggested potential ulterior motives on the part of the accusers, implying that Spacey's 2020 coming out as gay might have made him a target.
The initial allegations against Spacey surfaced in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused him of assault at a party in the 1980s. Spacey was found not liable in Rapp's civil lawsuit. Following Rapp's accusations, more men came forward, leading to Spacey's removal from the Netflix series "House of Cards." Spacey has since returned to acting with roles in several films.
