Kevin Spacey, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in “House of Cards” and “American Beauty,” has been acquitted of all charges in his sex crimes trial in London. The trial, which took place at Southwark Crown Court, involved nine charges of sexual assault against Spacey, alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013 and involving four men.
In a powerful moment outside the courthouse, Spacey, who is celebrating his 64th birthday today, expressed his gratitude and humility in response to the jury’s decision. Tears welled up in his eyes as he was cleared of seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He placed his hand on his chest, looked at the jury, and silently mouthed “thank you” twice before they left the room.
The trial was closely watched by the public, and the media coverage surrounding it was intense. Throughout the proceedings, Spacey vehemently denied all charges, describing them as “madness” and a “stab in the back.” Speaking outside the court, he acknowledged the emotional impact of the trial and expressed his gratitude to the jury for carefully examining all the evidence before reaching their decision.
The prosecution had claimed that Spacey had aggressively grabbed three men by the crotch and performed a sex act on another man while he was asleep. However, under questioning from Spacey’s lawyer, the complainants denied any ulterior motives, such as seeking financial gain or furthering their careers, and maintained the truthfulness of their accounts.
During the trial, one complainant described how Spacey aggressively grabbed his crotch while driving him to a showbiz party hosted by Elton John in the early 2000s. Another alleged that Spacey grabbed his crotch “like a cobra” after meeting him at a West End theater in the mid-2000s, following a barrage of vile comments. A third man claimed that Spacey had a panicked look on his face after his alleged sexual advance was rejected at an expensive property in the Cotswolds in the early 2010s.
The trial also brought attention to several famous names, including Elton John, who was called as a defense witness, and Dame Judi Dench, to whom Spacey had gifted a ping pong table after working together on a film. Spacey shared anecdotes about staying in Richard Harris’s son’s flat in the 1980s, adding a personal touch to the proceedings.
This is not the first high-profile trial Spacey has faced. Last year, he won a $40 million civil case in New York brought by “Star Trek: Discovery” star Anthony Rapp, who accused Spacey of sexually abusing him at a party when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. The jury deliberated for just over an hour before ruling in Spacey’s favor.
Looking ahead, Spacey expressed optimism about his future in an interview with ZEITmagazin, stating that there are people ready to hire him once he is cleared of the charges in London. He currently resides in both the UK and the US, where he has family and a beloved dog.
Following the not guilty verdicts, the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated that they respect the decision of the court. The CPS emphasized that their role is to make fair and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges, rather than determining guilt or innocence.
