Kevin Spacey, American star at the Oscars, was charged with sexually assaulting three men in London during a time when he was the artistic director of a theatre in the British capital.
The judge released the actor unconditionally after the hearing. He will appear in court on July 14th in London. He was to be released on parole, but he must remain in London as a condition of his parole.
The star actor of House of Cards was determined to prove his innocence. He appeared calm and confident at Westminster Magistrates Court.
He gave his name, address, and date of birth at the beginning of the hearing. Then, the charges against him were read out to him. This short hearing was devoted to procedural issues and launches what promises be a lengthy legal battle.
The 62 year-old actor has been charged with four counts of sexual assault on three men between March 2005 to April 2013. Their names have not yet been released. He is also accused in forcing one of the men to engage in sexual activity without her consent. This is a separate charge from rape, which involves penetration with a penis.
After the British prosecution gave the green light at the end May, the actor was officially charged. Kevin Spacey said that he was "disappointed" and announced that he would appear before British courts. Patrick Gibbs, his lawyer, stated that Mr. Spacey "strongly denies any foul play" in the case.
The two charges are related to the same act of sexual assault committed in March 2005 in London by the same person, who is now in his 40s.
In August 2008, another victim of sexual assault was in his thirties. He also accused him of forcing him to engage in sexual activity without his consent.
A third victim of sexual assault was also alleged to have been targeted in April 2013, in Gloucestershire (southwest England).
These allegations against Kevin Spacey were made in the wake the Weinstein scandal. This scandal was named after the American film producer who was subject to numerous sexual assault and harassment claims.
These actions had severe consequences for the actor, who was twice nominated for an Oscar (for American Beauty and Usual Suspects). He had seen success on the board before he was devoted to cinema and was landed by Netflix after he had starred in the series House of Cards.
Last year saw his big return to cinema with the film L'uomo, che disegno Dio ("The Man Who Draws God") Franco Nero, an Italian director, directs the film and plays the principal role. The American actor portrays a detective.
Scotland Yard opened an investigation following complaints of sexual assault against the actor. Some of the alleged attacks were committed in London's Lambeth district, where the Old Vic theatre is located. He was the artistic director of the Old Vic between 2004 and 2015.
Kevin Spacey was charged in his country with indecent assault in Massachusetts and sexual assault in Massachusetts. The charges were dropped in July 2019. After making him drink, he was charged with having sex with an 18-year old man in July 2016.
He appeared before a New York court for a procedural hearing in civil case brought by actor Anthony Rapp. Rapp had accused Spacey of making inappropriate sexual advances towards her as a teenager. Kevin Spacey denied the allegations and the case was dismissed in criminal proceedings.
