Kevin Spacey Says #MeToo Movement ‘Swung’ Far in ‘Unfairness’ in Rare Interview Amid Allegations
In a rare interview, Kevin Spacey spoke to Chris Cuomo on NewsNation Thursday to defend himself against the latest accusations against him.
“I’m trying to show that I’ve listened. I’ve learned. I’ve got the memo,” Spacey insisted during his first live television appearance in years. “I feel very strongly that whatever mistakes I’ve made in my life, that I paid a price.”
He continued to tell Cuomo that the #MeToo movement had “swung very, very far in the direction of unfairness,” and added, “We have to also be careful to make sure that the pendulum now doesn’t swing so far in the other direction.”
Spacey attempted to relate to Cuomo, referencing the sexual assault allegations the news anchor faced in 2021. However, Cuomo pointed out that there was a “difference” and that unlike others, Spacey went to trial after facing allegations of sexual assault and misconduct and that the claims “were assessed by prosecutors in America and in the U.K.”
When asked what Spacey believed he needed to do to be “uncanceled,” the actor replied, “honest journalism and an effort to actually report what was happening.” The actor continued, “I want to prove that I’m a man of great character. The responsibility for that is mine.”
The two-part doc, Spacey Unmasked, released earlier this month and included the testimony of 10 men — nine of whom have never spoken publicly before — who each brought allegations against the actor, ranging from sexual harassment to a claim that Spacey pleasured himself during a screening of Saving Private Ryan. Ahead of the film’s debut, Spacey called the majority of the accusations “utter nonsense.”
Sharon Stone, Liam Neeson and more actors defended Spacey this week in statements given to The Telegraph. Since being accused of sexual assault by several men, the actor has not worked in Hollywood since 2017.
Spacey has denied the various assault allegations. Last year, Spacey was acquitted in a U.K. trial, and he successfully defended against a lawsuit brought by actor Anthony Rapp, who claims that Spacey made a sexual advance on him in 1986, when he was 14 years old and Spacey was 26.
In February, Spacey also paid $1 million to settle arbitration on his alleged sexual harassment of crew members during the production of Netflix series House of Cards. Two of his U.S. criminal cases didn’t go forward (in one case because the accuser died).
