Kevin Spacey: British police investigating new sexual assault allegation against actor
Younger actor claims he woke to find Spacey performing a sex act on him
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British police are investigating a new allegation of sexual abuse against Kevin Spacey amid mounting claims of misconduct.
The actor is accused of attacking a man in the Lambeth area of south London in 2008, The Independent understands.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the case had been referred from the City of London’s force on Wednesday, adding: “It is alleged a man assaulted another man in 2008 in Lambeth.
“Officers from the child abuse and sexual offences command are investigating.”
Police have not officially identified 58-year-old Spacey, who was artistic director of the capital’s Old Vic theatre at the time.
The investigation is believed to relate to claims by a British actor who alleges that Spacey abused him after he passed out at his home.
The unnamed man, who was 23 at the time, told The Sun he woke to find the actor performing a sexual act on him and was warned: “Don’t tell anyone about this.”
The man, now 32, is said to have contacted police earlier this week after separate allegations that Spacey had assaulted Anthony Rapp as a 14-year-old child actor in New York.
A filmmaker has also accused Spacey of groping him in 2003, a British barman claimed the actor flashed him before giving him a valuable watch seven years later, and an artist claimed they had a relationship when he was 14, which Spacey denies.
In a statement responding to Mr Rapp’s allegations, he said he did “not remember the encounter”, adding: “If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.
“This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life.
“I know that there are stories out there about me and that some have been fuelled by the fact that I have been so protective of my privacy.
“As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.
“I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour.”
LGBT campaigners reacted angrily to Spacey’s decision to use the statement to publicly come out.
Dutch bank ING is the latest body to cancel an engagement with the actor, who had been due to appear at a business conference it is organising in Rotterdam.
The Oscar-winner is seeking unspecified treatment, according to his representatives, who said: “Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment.”
The allegations have forced a halt in production of Netflix show House of Cards, where Spacey plays the starring role as fictional US President Frank Underwood.
On Thursday, CNN published a report in which eight current and former employees of the series, who were not identified, made claims of sexual misconduct against Spacey.
Production company Media Rights Capital said it was “deeply troubled to learn about these new allegations”, confirming that action had been taken over one incident in 2012 following a crew member’s complaint.
It said Spacey had “willingly participated in a training process” and that it was not aware of any complaints since then involving the actor.
Netflix said in an emailed statement that it was aware of the 2012 case and “is not aware of any other incidents involving Kevin Spacey on-set”.