During one of the cases that ended Kevin Spacey’s career, a jury on Thursday found that the script did not sexually harass Anthony Rapp, who was 14 at the time, while they were both relatively unknown performers in Broadway shows in 1986.
The civil trial’s judgement was rendered in an instant. After deliberating for slightly over an hour, the jury in a federal court in New York concluded that Rapp had not established his claims.
After hearing the decision, Spacey bowed his head and hugged his attorneys. As he exited the courtroom, he avoided speaking to reporters.
His attorney, Jennifer Keller, said, “We’re extremely appreciative to the jury for seeing through these fraudulent charges.
Next, it will be shown that Mr. Spacey is innocent of all charges levelled against him. That there wasn’t any substance with any of the allegations,” she continued, making reference to further allegations of the actor’s sexual misbehaviour, which included legal action in England.
Rapp said in court that Spacey brought him to a gathering at his residence and then pursued him in a bedroom after the other visitors had departed. He said that the actor, who was 26 at the time, lifted him up and partially positioned him on a bed until wriggling away and running away as an inebriated Spacey questioned his decision to go.
Spacey assured the jurors throughout his more often than not evidence that nothing transpired and that he could not have been drawn to a 14-year-old.
He damage of $40 million were demanded in the complaint.
At the three-week trial, both Rapp, 50, and Spacey, 63, gave testimony over the course of many days.
The two-time Academy Award winning actor’s once-soaring career was abruptly cut short by Rapp’s and other people’s charges. He was fired from the Netflix series “House of Cards” and other possibilities dried up. Rapp is a regular on the television show “Star Trek: Discovery,” and he was a member of the original “Rent” Broadway ensemble.
Spacey was accused of groping a guy in a club in Massachusetts; the charges against him were eventually withdrawn by the prosecution.
When accused of sexually assaulting three men between 2004 and 2015 while serving as creative director of the Old Vic theatre in London, he entered a not guilty plea a few months ago.