Kevin Spacey to finally stand trial in US over child sex abuse allegations

Kevin Spacey heads to court in New York today (6 October) to defend himself against a civil lawsuit filed by actor Anthony Rapp.

Rapp was the first person to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the disgraced actor in 2017 during an interview with Buzzfeed during the #MeToo era. 

According to Rapp, the incident took place in Spacey’s Manhattan apartment in 1986 when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26.

Rapp described how, when at the apartment, Kevin Spacey approached him while they were both in his bedroom.

Spacey has denied the allegations.

“He was trying to seduce me,” Rapp said.

“I don’t know If I would have used that language. But I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually.”

As jury selection begins, both Rapp and Spacey are expected to testify in court.

‘Deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour’

Rapp filed the legal action in September 2020 for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He is seeking compensation for mental and emotional suffering, medical expenses and loss of work.

This could lead to $40 million in damages, reports the BBC.

A day after the accusations were made by Rapp, Spacey took to social media to apologise for any “deeply inappropriate drunken behavior”, but since then his lawyers have said the accusation is false.

Following Rapp’s claim, several other men have also come forward with their own experiences. 

In June, Kevin Spacey appeared in court in the UK, charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing penetrative sexual activity.

These alleged charges are said to have taken place between 2005 and 2013 in London and Gloucestershire.

During the court appearance, Patrick Gibbs QC, said in Spacey’s defence: “Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.”

After being granted unconditional bail, he pleaded not guilty to all five charges, with the full trial expected to take place in June 2023.  

Despite ongoing cases, the actor has had some success in attempting to restart his acting career.

In May, Deadline reported he is set to star in a new historical drama 1242 – Gateway to the West, his biggest feature since the first sexual misconduct allegations were made against him in 2017.