Kevin Spacey trial: ‘Slippery’ actor behaved as if he ‘thought he could groom me’, court hears
Kevin Spacey behaved as if he “thought he could groom” one of his alleged victims of sexual assault – and good-looking young men were warned about the “slippery” Hollywood actor as it was “well known he was up to no good”, a court has heard.
During the first day of evidence at Southwark Crown Court in London, the first of four complainants claimed he was assaulted more than 10 times by Spacey over a period of about four years in the early 2000s – saying the actor put the alleged victim’s hand on his own penis several times, and grabbed him on other occasions.
The man, a driver, was “disgusted” with the alleged sex assaults, the court heard. “The first time that he touched me, it was just a massive shock. I immediately pushed his hand off,” he said.
Read more: Kevin Spacey trial – as it happens in court
Spacey is on trial accused of 12 sex offences against four men between 2001 and 2013, and has been described by the prosecution as a “sexual bully”. He has vehemently denied all the charges.
As well as hearing from the alleged victim, jurors watched a recording of his interview with police. In the footage, he described warning the star on one occasion that he would “knock him out” on the journey to an A-list party hosted by Sir Elton John – but the actor was “turned on” by this.
In the footage, the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described Spacey, 63, as a “slippery, snaky, difficult person” and a “very mixed-up individual”. He also referenced his serial killer character in the film Seven, saying: “He’s a bit like that, a bit creepy.”
‘Don’t do that again or I will knock you out’
The man said Spacey told him he could introduce him to A-list stars, and said when he tried to fight back against one of the alleged assaults, the actor replied: “That’s such a turn on to me. You’re such a man.”
Describing one alleged incident to police, the man said: “He grabbed me so hard I almost came off the road. He grabbed me really hard and it really hurt. I pushed him against the door and said, ‘Don’t do that again or I will knock you out’.”
Spacey “would squeeze my bum and would rub my legs”, the man said in his police interview.
He also said he had found Spacey walking around his flat naked on occasion, adding: “It’s not something I wanted to see, to be honest.”
‘It was well known he was up to no good’
An artist’s sketch of Kevin Spacey in court earlier in the trial. Pic: Elizabeth Cook/PA
The alleged victim told the officer that young, good-looking men were warned about the actor’s behaviour, and said people would tell them: “You better be careful.”
“It was well known he was up to no good,” he added.
When questioned in court by Spacey’s lawyer Patrick Gibbs KC, the man denied being excited by the actor touching him. He also dismissed the defence lawyer when he asked whether the alleged incidents made him question his sexuality – describing it as a “ridiculous question”.
Asked how Spacey’s alleged actions affected him, the complainant said he suffered “shame, embarrassment and shock”.
It “caused me anxiety”, he told the court, adding that it was not easy to talk about at the time so he largely “blocked it out”.
He continued: “I was struggling with the fact that someone had touched me and I didn’t allow them to. And secondly, he was a major movie star.”
The man told the court he made it “crystal clear” he did not like being touched in that way and denied a suggestion that he “sometimes let him do it and… in fact responded to it”.
Continuing his cross-examination of the alleged victim, Mr Gibbs began to ask: “Didn’t what happened between you…”
The man interjected: “Nothing happened between us – he assaulted me.”
Alleged victim denies ulterior motives for making allegations
He also denied that he had jumped on a “bandwagon” by coming forward, or been motivated by money, saying: “I’m doing well in my life. I could really do without all this… some others have been brave and come forward, so I thought it was time for me to come forward and do the same.”
In his police interview, the man said he could no longer watch any of Spacey’s films or TV programmes.
“I can’t watch a movie with [Spacey] in it… I can’t stand him, it makes me feel physically sick,” he said.
The man told the officer Spacey was “pretending to be nice” but was a “predator” who was “aggressive”.
He added: “He was obviously very messed up with his sexuality.”
The charges against Spacey
Spacey pleaded not guilty in July 2022 to four charges of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
In January this year, he pleaded not guilty to seven further charges – three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The most serious charge faced by the actor, of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
The trial continues.
Entertainment
Eurovision says some contestants did not respect ‘spirit of rules’ after controversial competition
The organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest has said it “regrets” that some contestants did not respect the “spirit of the rules” when taking part in the competition in Sweden.
In a statement on Monday, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it had spoken to a number of delegations during the event regarding what it referred to as “various issues that were brought to our attention”.
It comes after Ireland’s Bambie Thug said they had raised “multiple complaints” to the EBU in the build up to the grand finale in the city of Malmo on Saturday after accusing Israeli broadcaster, Kan, of a rule breach.
The Irish performer accused the Israeli broadcaster of “inciting violence” against them three times and added they were waiting for the EBU to respond.
Bambie – who finished sixth with their gothic song Doomsday Blue – had repeatedly criticised the involvement of Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, who came fifth in the competition, given the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
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Bambie Thug: ‘My favourite non-binary won’
The EBU said this week its governing bodies will work with the heads of delegations to review the events that took place at this year’s Eurovision and “move forward in a positive way and to ensure the values of the event are respected by everyone”.
“Individual cases will be discussed by the event’s governing body, the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, made up of representatives from participating broadcasters, at its next meeting,” it said.
Nemo celebrates after winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Pic: AP
The 68th edition of the annual song contest was won by Nemo from Switzerland – the first non-binary performer to take the trophy.
But the week of the competition was marred by controversy, after the disqualification of The Netherlands’s contestant Joost Klein who was stopped from taking part over an “incident” where he was alleged to have made verbal threats to a female production worker.
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A Pro-Palestinian demonstration ahead of the second semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo. Pic: AP
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It was the first time in Eurovision history that an act has been disqualified after reaching the grand final.
Meanwhile, around 10,000-12,000 people, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, took to the streets of Malmo across the weekend to call for Israel to be excluded from the contest.
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How did Eurovision 2024 unfold?
Numerous contestants – including Lithuania, France and Portugal – also tentatively brought politics to the stage after performing in the final, with all of them commenting on the importance of peace.
Israel’s Ms Golan told Sky News after the contest she had ignored all the controversy and was “over the moon” about coming fifth in the competition.
Kelly Clarkson has addressed speculation about her weight loss, saying she has not used Ozempic but “something else” which has helped her.
The singer and talk show host spoke about the issue with actress Whoopi Goldberg, who has also lost a lot of weight after having treatment, in an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Numerous Hollywood stars are rumoured to have used Ozempic to lose weight – but just a handful of celebrities have admitted it publicly.
Whoopi Goldberg says she has lost “almost two people” in weight. Pic: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP 2023
The medication was originally designed for people with diabetes, suppressing the appetite and lengthening the amount of time food stays in the stomach, leading to weight loss.
On the show, Goldberg, 68, told Clarkson she had “lost almost two people” in weight by “doing that wonderful shot that works for folks that need some help”. She has previously spoken about using the medication Mounjaro, another diabetes drug approved for weight loss in the US.
Clarkson, 42, responded by sharing her own story: “My doctor chased me for like two years and I was like, ‘No, I’m afraid of it. I already have thyroid problems’,” she said. “Everybody thinks it Ozempic. It’s not.”
Instead, Clarkson said she had used “something else… that aids in helping break down the sugar – obviously my body doesn’t do it right”.
She weighed 203 pounds, or 14.5 stone, at her heaviest, she said, and decided to begin her weight loss journey after watching a performance of herself and not recognising who she was watching on screen.
“You see it, and you’re like, ‘well, she’s about to die of a heart attack’,” Clarkson said.
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The American Idol star was also told she was pre-diabetic earlier this year.
In January, she told People, she had lost weight after listening to her doctor and was eating “a healthy mix”.
Ozempic has been banned as a treatment for obesity in the UK due to high demand for the drug causing a global shortage.
Stephen Fry was prescribed the drug in the US “years ago” and said earlier this year that side effects included vomiting up to five times a day.
Oprah Winfrey has also said she has taken weight loss drugs, though has declined to specify which one.
Former Capital radio host Roman Kemp has revealed he switched antidepressants because the ones he was taking were giving him a low sex drive.
The 31-year-old, who is the son of former Spandau Ballet and EastEnders star Martin Kemp, has been open about his mental health struggles. He has been taking antidepressants since he was 15.
Roman Kemp, right, with his father Martin: Pic: AP
Speaking to The Times about how his use of medication has affected him, Kemp revealed he had to change his treatment in order to improve his libido.
He said: “It’s reality. It’s a very common thing that antidepressants can do. But I spoke to my doctor, he switched me to a different one and now I’m back up and running.
“There’s not really a lot of secrets that I wouldn’t divulge if I don’t think they can benefit other people.”
Kemp said he isn’t dating at the moment but is keen to have children in the next few years.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
In April, he said he decided to leave his role hosting the Capital radio breakfast show because being in the studio was like reliving the “horrible” moment of discovering his friend’s death “over and over” again.
Kemp’s best friend and producer Joe Lyons took his own life in August 2020, and the star learned of his death while he was at work.
The following year he made a documentary about mental health called Our Silent Emergency, which is now shown in schools and was nominated for a National Television Award.
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The Princess of Wales later called him for a chat as she launched her Shaping Up mental health campaign.
Reflecting on a short film he made with Princess Kate as part of the campaign, he said it was “one of the most surreal days of my life” when she met him at his parents’ house to discuss the production.
“Me, my mum, dad, sister and the princess just chatting round the kitchen table,” he explained.
“The weirdest thing is, she took her shoes off at the door. You never really see a princess in her socks.”
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, last year. Pic: Reuters
Although perhaps best known for his 10-year stint at Capital radio, Kemp has also appeared on The One Show and Celebrity Gogglebox.
He has also appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
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