Kevin Spacey remains unfazed despite sexual assault allegations and will return to work in an upcoming movie.
Given the accusations, Variety recently shared details of the scandal while also revealing that Spacey has been ordered to pay about $31 million in damages and costs and fees.
Kevin Spacey Will Feature In The New “Peter Five Eight” Amid Assault Scandal
While Spacey faces multiple charges of sexual assault, he is set to appear in the new movie “Peter Five Eight,” and the producers released a statement to the news outlet about the new gig.
They also spoke about the 63-year-old’s return to work, saying, “While it’s unfortunate that increased negative press is timed with Kevin returning to work, it’s also to be expected.”
The producers added that there were people who wished for him not to act; however, those people were outnumbered by fans worldwide who looked forward to seeing “an artist they have enjoyed for decades” return to the screen.
They also mentioned having no knowledge or comment on the spreading rumors about Spacey’s scandal, and they believed it was a matter for the courts to determine the truth.
Besides, according to the producers, “Peter Five Eight” is a film for fans who cared more for the art than the scandal.
As for Spacey’s mentioned scandal, he was removed during the sixth season of “House of Cards” after facing allegations of sexually assaulting and targeting young men.
Among the alleged victims was a “House of Cards” production assistant who claimed the American actor groped him, thereby setting off MRC’s investigation.
It is worth knowing that MRC is the series’ production company to which a judge ordered Spacey to pay $31 million for the alleged sex offenses.
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In addition, one L.A. Superior Court Judge, Mel Red Recana, confirmed a verdict previously given by an arbitrator in October 2020, which comprised $29.5 million in damages and $1.5 million in costs and fees.
Meanwhile, MRC argued that the two-time Academy Award winner owed them millions in lost profits due to his misconduct as it forced them to reduce the sixth season’s thirteen episodes to eight after removing the actor.
The arbitrator ruled in the producer’s favor, discovering that Spacey’s conduct “constituted a material breach of his agreements as an actor and executive producing agreements.”
Several months ago, the “Seven” actor’s lawyers tried to dismiss the $31 million settlement award, saying his behavior was nothing more than “sexual innuendos” and “innocent horseplay” and did not violate MRC’s anti-harassment policy.
As for Spacey’s alleged sexual misconduct, he was first accused in 2017 by Anthony Rapp, who claimed that the movie star made a sexual advance on him in 1986, when Rapp was 14.
Two days after the accusation, production on “House of Cards” was suspended, and two days following that, CNN published a story of denunciation directed at Spacey.
The story accused the renowned producer of creating a “toxic” environment on set by making uncouth remarks and “engaging in non-consensual touching of young male staffers.”
Upon viewing filmed confession testimony, the arbitrator found that Spacey violated MRC’s sexual harassment policy in connection with five “House of Cards” crew members.
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However, according to the offender’s attorneys, Stephen G. Larson and Jonathan E. Philips, that behavior was not included in CNN’s story but was only exposed after an ensuing internal investigation.
The “Pay It Forward” Star Pleads Not Guilty To Four Counts Of Sexual Misconduct
Earlier last month, The Blast made a report about Spacey’s London trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault.
As the outlet noted, he also asserted “not guilty” to an extra charge of forcing an individual to participate in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
Even with his plea, his 2023 trial will go as planned and is expected to last three to four weeks next June.
It should be noted that Spacey’s July court appearance came after a preliminary hearing in June, where he was granted unconditional bond at Westminster Magistrates Court in London.
His lawyers further maintained that there was no “real risk” that he would be uncooperative given the charges against him.
You may also recall that the two-time Academy Award winner was officially charged in the U.K. in May with four counts of sexual assault against three men.
The incidents were reported to have taken place in London between March 2005 and August 2008 and in Gloucestershire in 2013.
