Trendpills
Kevin Spacey is preparing for another legal battle in the U.K., as he is set to face a civil trial in London's High Court over sexual assault allegations made by three anonymous men. The trial is reportedly scheduled to begin in early 2025 and is entirely separate from the criminal case the actor faced last year.
This new lawsuit follows Spacey's acquittal in a high-profile criminal trial in July 2023. At Southwark Crown Court in London, a jury found the two-time Academy Award winner not guilty on nine counts of sexual offenses involving four men, which were alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013. Many of these allegations related to his tenure as the artistic director of London's esteemed Old Vic theatre, a position he held from 2004 to 2015. Throughout the trial, Spacey maintained his innocence, characterizing the encounters as consensual.
The upcoming civil case represents a different legal challenge, as the standard of proof is lower than in a criminal court. The three claimants are suing the actor for damages related to alleged sexual assault. The claims were initially filed individually but are expected to be heard together due to their similarities. Spacey has consistently and vehemently denied all allegations of non-consensual sexual activity.
The wave of accusations against Spacey began in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp alleged an unwanted sexual advance in 1986. This led to Spacey's removal from the final season of the Netflix series House of Cards and a significant halt to his career. However, Spacey has seen success in court previously. In October 2022, a New York jury found him not liable in a civil lawsuit brought by Rapp, who was seeking $40 million in damages. Earlier this year, the U.K.'s Channel 4 aired a documentary titled Spacey Unmasked, detailing new allegations, which Spacey criticized as a one-sided attack ahead of the new civil proceedings and reiterated his denial of all claims.
