Five years after sexual abuse accusations, Kevin Spacey’s trial begins in New York

Spacey has vehemently denied Rapp's accusations and additional sexual misconduct charges.

Five years after sexual abuse accusations, Kevin Spacey's trial begins in New York
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Actor Kevin Spacey leaves the Central Criminal Court on July 14, 2022 in London, England. The Hollywood actor faces four counts of sexual assault against three men and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Kevin Spacey Fowler, known as Kevin Spacey, will go on trial on Thursday in a civil lawsuit filed by Anthony Rapp over an allegation that he was sexually assaulted 36 years ago.

Spacey is being sued in New York by Rapp, who says the actor inappropriately touched him at a party in 1986 when he was just 14.

Spacey is also facing five charges of sexual assault in the UK.

Five years after sexual abuse accusations, Kevin Spacey's trial begins in New York
Image credits: BBC

Anthony Rapp, a star in the Broadway musical Rent, publicly accused Spacey of sexual assault when he was a teenager five years ago.

According to a court document, “Mr. Rapp claims that Mr. Fowler lifted him, that Mr. Fowler’s hand his [sic] ‘grazed’ Mr. Rapp’s clothed buttocks for seconds as he did so, that Mr. Fowler placed Mr. Rapp back-down on a bed, and Mr. Fowler then briefly placed his clothed body partially beside and partially across Mr. Rapp’s.”

Rapp, now 51, an actor, and Spacey are anticipated to be in the Manhattan federal courthouse when the trial opens with jury selection on Thursday.

Other vital witnesses will include a psychologist who believes Rapp currently experiences post-traumatic stress disorder due to the unfortunate encounter with the sexual predator Spacey.

Rapp filed legal action in September 2020 and accused Kevin Spacey of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Rapp reportedly seeks damages for $40m (£35m).

According to the news website Law & Crime, Spacey denied that the incident occurred in a video deposition.

Netflix dropped him from its political drama “House of Cards,” and Christopher Plummer replaced him in the role of J. Paul Getty in “All the Money in the World” just a few weeks before the movie’s scheduled release.

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