Jury acquits Kevin Spacey in London on sexual assault charges dating back to 2001

Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning actor, has been acquitted by a London jury on sexual assault charges dating back to 2001. The four-week trial saw Spacey defending himself by claiming that he engaged in consensual flings with men, describing himself as a “big flirt.” He admitted to touching a man’s groin but characterized it as a “clumsy pass.”

The charges brought against Spacey involved three men who accused him of aggressively grabbing their crotches. Additionally, an aspiring actor seeking mentorship claimed that Spacey performed oral sex on him without consent after they visited Spacey’s London apartment for a beer, and he either fell asleep or passed out.

Spacey maintained that the acts were consensual with the young actor and another man, while he considered the third man’s claim of him acting like a striking “cobra” backstage at a theater as “pure fantasy.” Although he couldn’t remember a fourth incident at a small party, he acknowledged touching the groin of a man he had met at a pub during a night of heavy drinking, admitting he misread the man’s interest and made an awkward pass.

The defense lawyer, Patrick Gibbs, branded three of the accusers as liars, asserting that they had reimagined the incidents with a sinister spin. He also accused them of jumping on a “bandwagon” of complaints to potentially gain financially.

The prosecutor, Christine Agnew, portrayed Spacey as a “sexual bully” who took advantage of others due to his belief that he was shielded by his power and influence. She argued that men were hesitant to complain, wouldn’t be believed if they did, and even if they did come forward, no action would be taken against Spacey because of his stature.

The allegations spanned from 2001 to 2013, covering a period when Spacey was active in both film and theater. The men came forward with their accusations following the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017, which was triggered, in part, by another American actor accusing Spacey of sexual misconduct.

Throughout the trial, Spacey expressed the emotional and financial toll the accusations had taken on him, leading to the loss of his job, reputation, and career opportunities. He claimed that he faced severe criticism on social media and became toxic in the industry.

Spacey’s removal from “House of Cards” and the replacement of his scenes in “All the Money in the World” with Christopher Plummer are some of the repercussions he faced following the allegations. Despite a swift clearance in a $40 million lawsuit by actor Anthony Rapp in New York, Spacey saw the London case as an opportunity for redemption, hoping it would lead to future job offers once he was cleared of all charges.

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