One of actor Kevin Spacey B次元官网网址榮 accusers described the Oscar-winner in court Monday as a B次元官网网址渟lippery, snakyB次元官网网址� predator who good-looking, young men were warned to avoid.
The man, who worked with the American actor when he came to the Old Vic Theatre in London in the early 2000s, said Spacey told him he could introduce him to Hollywood stars. But the man said that word around the playhouse was that he should be careful around Spacey.
B次元官网网址淚t was well known he was up to no good,B次元官网网址� the man said in a video of his police interview played for jurors in SpaceyB次元官网网址檚 sexual assault trial. B次元官网网址淗e was almost right from the get-go grooming me.B次元官网网址�
He said Spacey made him uncomfortable querying him about his sexuality, then became B次元官网网址渢ouchy feelyB次元官网网址� and graduated to aggressive groping when they were alone together.
The man, who cannot be identified under British law, likened Spacey to the villain he plays in the 1995 thriller B次元官网网址淪e7enB次元官网网址� about a serial killer motivated by the seven deadly sins.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a bit like that, a bit creepy,B次元官网网址� the man said in his police interview last year.
Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges involving four men for events that date from 2001 to 2013. The charges include sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
He could go to prison if convicted, though Spacey told a German magazine that he expects heB次元官网网址檒l be offered work B次元官网网址渢he moment I am cleared of these charges.B次元官网网址�
The case expected to last four weeks continues Tuesday before a jury of nine men and three women in Southwark Crown Court.
Once one of the biggest actors of his generation, Spacey won an Academy Award for supporting actor in B次元官网网址淭he Usual SuspectsB次元官网网址� in 1995 and best actor Oscar for the 1999 movie B次元官网网址淎merican Beauty.B次元官网网址� HeB次元官网网址檚 also won awards for the stage and small screen.
His career dried up when sexual misconduct allegations against him arose as the #MeToo movement exploded. He was written off the Netflix political thriller B次元官网网址淗ouse of Cards,B次元官网网址� and cut from the completed film B次元官网网址淎ll the Money in the World.B次元官网网址�
The actor, who has homes in the U.S. and London, is free on bail. He served as artistic director at the Old Vic from 2003 until 2015.
The man said he reacted with horror when Spacey made first contact by rubbing his neck early in their work relationship in the early 2000s.
B次元官网网址淭he first time that he touched me was just a massive shock,B次元官网网址� he testified. B次元官网网址淚 just donB次元官网网址檛 like peopleB次元官网网址檚 hands on me.B次元官网网址�
When he complained to a woman he worked for, she laughed it off and she said, B次元官网网址淵ou can cope, you can handle it. We all know what heB次元官网网址檚 like,B次元官网网址� he said.
The man said he decided he B次元官网网址渄idnB次元官网网址檛 want to upset the apple cartB次元官网网址� and got on with his job.
But as Spacey escalated to grabbing the man in the crotch and taking the manB次元官网网址檚 hand and using it to rub his own privates over the pants, he began to dread when Spacey would return to London.
Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs on cross-examination suggested that the man, who was disguised in court behind a curtain, was confused by the touching and even got a thrill from it.
B次元官网网址淣othing happened between us. He was assaulting me,B次元官网网址� the man said. B次元官网网址淚 was doing my job and he was the one touching me.B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址�
Gibbs confronted the man with a photo he posted six years ago on social media of him and Spacey in which his arm appears to be around SpaceyB次元官网网址檚 back.
B次元官网网址淒id it make you feel sick to stand there side by side?B次元官网网址� Gibbs asked.
The man said he used the image to promote his business.
B次元官网网址淎nyone who does social media would have killed for a picture like that,B次元官网网址� the man said.
He said the final straw for working with Spacey came on a day he was driving him to a celebrity-studded summer gala in 2004 or 2005 when the star violently gripped his crotch and he nearly ran off the road.
B次元官网网址淗e grabbed me really hard and it really hurt,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 pushed him against the door and said, B次元官网网址楧onB次元官网网址檛 do that again or I will knock you out.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 such a turn on to me,B次元官网网址� he said Spacey replied. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e such a man.B次元官网网址�
Gibbs, however, said that Spacey only attended that party once B次元官网网址� three or four years earlier than the witness claimed.
The defense lawyer also showed jurors a snapshot the man had sent Spacey of himself as thanks for supporting him on a hike for charity in the Rocky Mountains of North America. The man had also kept a warm letter Spacey had written him after donating 5,000-pound ($6,350) for the trek.
The man said he told a few people in his life about his experience with Spacey, fearing it could affect his career. He said he decided to come forward last year, after Spacey had been charged with assaulting the three other alleged victims in the case.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a big part of it,B次元官网网址� the man said. B次元官网网址淪trength in numbers, isnB次元官网网址檛 it?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淥r is it that in 2022, you saw a bandwagon coming past and you decided to hop on board?B次元官网网址� Gibbs asked.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not true at all,B次元官网网址� the man said.
Two decades later, the man said he has never overcome the shame he felt and cannot bring himself to view SpaceyB次元官网网址檚 films or TV shows.
B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 stand watching the man. It makes me feel sick,B次元官网网址� the man said.
Brian Melley, The Associated Press
