Kevin Spacey continues on path to redemption with major award at Cannes
Cannes, France: Kevin Spacey is set to accept a lifetime achievement award at the Better World Fund’s 10th anniversary gala dinner at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, marking one of the most high-profile comebacks of the #MeToo era. The Oscar-winning actor will be honored for his "artistic brilliance" and "enduring impact on cinema".
Spacey is also attending the Cannes film festival to promote his new film, 'The Awakening', seeking buyers in the Marche du Cannes market. While the gala is not an official festival event, the Carlton Hotel remains a hub for industry activity. Organizers have praised Spacey’s contributions, though it remains unclear whether he will walk the red carpet.
Earlier this year, Spacey clashed with actor Guy Pearce, who alleged inappropriate behavior during the filming of LA Confidential (1997). Spacey dismissed the claims in a video, telling Pearce to "grow up".
The first major allegation against Kevin Spacey surfaced in October 2017, when actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making a sexual advance toward him in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 27. Spacey stated he did not recall the event but apologized for any inappropriate behavior if it occurred. In 2022, a New York jury found Spacey not liable, clearing him of all charges in that civil case.
After Rapp’s public statement, more than a dozen men came forward with similar allegations, including claims of sexual assault, harassment, and inappropriate conduct spanning from the 1970s to 2013. Several criminal investigations in the U.S. ended without charges, either due to insufficient evidence, expired statutes of limitations, or the death of an accuser.
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Notable cases included a 2016 incident involving the son of Boston anchorwoman Heather Unruh, allegations from individuals at London’s Old Vic Theatre (where Spacey was artistic director), and multiple accusations from colleagues and acquaintances in the entertainment industry. He was acquitted on all counts after a trial.
Spacey currently faces a civil lawsuit in the UK from a man alleging sexual assault in 2008. Earlier in 2024, a default judgment was briefly entered against Spacey due to a procedural error by his lawyers, but this was overturned, allowing Spacey to contest the claims in a future trial.
New allegations and civil suits continue to emerge, including claims featured in the 2024 documentary 'Spacey Unmasked'. Spacey has denied all allegations of criminal wrongdoing but admitted in interviews to having been "too handsy" in the past, while insisting he never acted illegally.
While Spacey has not appeared in any major U.S. studio productions since the allegations, he has had a number of roles in European independent films or smaller projects.