Kevin Spacey under fire for linking sexuality to abuse in apology to Anthony Rapp, who has accused him of sexual harassment Photograph: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
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Matthew Weaverand Stephanie Convery
Monday 30 October 2017 14.32 GMTFirst published on Monday 30 October 2017 13.09 GMT
Kevin Spacey is facing criticism for the way he linked his sexuality to his apology about allegations of sexual advances towards a 14-year-old actor.
The House Of Cards star and former artistic director of London’s Old Vic theatre said he could not remember sexually harassing Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp in 1986.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell lamented the timing of Spacey’s decision to come out as gay.
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Matthew Weaverand Stephanie Convery
Monday 30 October 2017 14.32 GMTFirst published on Monday 30 October 2017 13.09 GMT
Kevin Spacey is facing criticism for the way he linked his sexuality to his apology about allegations of sexual advances towards a 14-year-old actor.
The House Of Cards star and former artistic director of London’s Old Vic theatre said he could not remember sexually harassing Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp in 1986.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell lamented the timing of Spacey’s decision to come out as gay.
“It is tragic that it has taken allegations of sexual harassment for Kevin Spacey to finally come out as gay, after not disclosing his sexuality for decades. It is even worse that he mixes up his sexuality with inappropriate behaviour. His gayness is irrelevant. It’s his actions that have prompted concern,” he told the Guardian.
Stonewall, the LGBT lobby group, echoed Tatchell’s concerns. Kim Sanders, communications manager for the group, said: “Usually when celebrities come out we’re quick to send on our congratulations and to talk about the importance of role models. But for Kevin Spacey to choose this particular moment to come out is harmful to the LGBT community. His sexual orientation bears no relevance to the serious allegations he is facing, and to conflate these things is extremely damaging.”
Tatchell added: “Although women are the main victims of sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour by male public figures, clearly some men are victims too. All those affected, whatever their gender or sexuality, deserve admiration for coming forward and telling their story.
“We have to respond to the post-Weinstein outpouring of revelations by changing the male and workplace culture that allows abuse to happen. To protect future generations, it should be mandatory for all schools to teach pupils about consent and abuse issues and to challenge the disordered forms of masculinity that fuel sex abuse.”
In an interview with BuzzFeed, Rapp said Spacey, then aged 26, put him on a bed and climbed on top of him after a party at his apartment.
In a statement Spacey said that if this did happen he owes Rapp his “sincerest apology”. The statement goes on to discuss living as a gay man, prompting widespread criticism that Spacey appears to be conflating homosexuality with abuse.
House of Cards star widely condemned for conflating sexuality with inappropriate behaviour in apology to Anthony Rapp
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