A jury has unanimously found Kevin Spacey not guilty of sexually assaulting four men. The “House of Cards” actor, 64, was cleared of all charges in a four-week trial that took place at Southwark crown court in the U.K. Spacey had voluntarily flown there to take part in the proceedings and has always vehemently denied all accusations made about him.
Here’s what you need to know about the trial as well as the charges against Spacey.
- As the not guilty verdict was read on Wednesday, July 26, Spacey wept in the dock. The jury cleared him of all charges after 12 hours and 26 minutes of deliberation, and the news couldn’t have been more of a relief for the star. After looking at his legal team, he then put his hand on his chest and mouthed “thank you, thank you” to jurors, per The Guardian.
- After being dismissed from the courtroom, Spacey addressed members of the press that had gathered there. During his speech, he expressed his thanks to members of the jury, his legal team, as well as those who have supported him throughout this trying time in his life.
- Spacey seemed overwhelmingly relieved at the verdict. “I imagine that many of you can understand that there’s a lot for me to process after what has just happened today,” Spacey said. “But I would like to say that I’m enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts, carefully, before they reached their decision. And I am humbled by the outcome today.” He added: “I also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse, the security, and all those who took care of us every single day, my legal team … for being here every day.”
- The charges against Spacey were extremely serious. He faced nine counts of sexual offenses on four men in their 20s and 30s between 2004 and 2013. The accusations ranged from inappropriate sexual advances to groping and more serious assaults. However, Spacey, whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, always insisted the claims were a “stab in the back,” “madness,” and “absolute bollocks.” He also accused his accusers of being motivated by “money, money, and then money.”
- The jury sided with Spacey. While the prosecution insisted that the actor had “aggressively” groped three men’s genitals and performed oral sex on another while he was sleeping, the jury saw no proof of these crimes. Spacey insisted any sexual encounters he’d had with the men were consensual and that many of the other allegations simply “never happened.”
- Kevin Spacey pleaded not guilty to 12 charges at the start of the trial. Those charges included “seven sexual assaults, three indecent assaults, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent,” The Guardian reveals. However, the four indecent assault charges were later removed due to a “technical legality.”
- His legal troubles aren’t over just yet. Two of Kevin Spacey’s accusers are said to be pursuing civil cases against the actor, likely seeking large financial settlements. No doubt Spacey will continue to fight these cases, as he has always insisted he is completely innocent.
- Not everyone is convinced that the jury made the right decision. One look at social media following the announcement of the verdict shows just how few people side with Spacey. Many have pointed out the court’s bias against sexual assault victims, while others mentioned how odd it is that several of his accusers have mysteriously died since coming forward.
Kevin Spacey’s accusers:
1. Dead, suicide (Ari Behn)
2. Dead, hit by a car (Linda Culkin)
3. Dead, cause unknown (John Doe)
4. Case suddenly dropped (07/2019)Today, he was acquitted for sexual assault. Dead men tell no tales.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 26, 2023
Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty of all nine charges of sexual assault against him.
The torment Mr Spacey has endured will not end with the conclusion of the trial or the nine ‘not guilty’ verdicts.
He will never get over this.
I wish him, and his loved ones, well. pic.twitter.com/8gmdV2JDEn
— Harvey Proctor (@KHarveyProctor) July 26, 2023
I still stand with Anthony Rapp and all the other victims of Kevin Spacey. pic.twitter.com/FkLfgfFVZ1
— veracity😳 (@wls_almostthere) July 26, 2023
reminder re this kevin spacey bullshit that the courts are violently biased against victims & especially victims of sexual violence, which is also why you should always support victims regardless of verdict & never shame victims for choosing not to report their assault.
— 🌬️Doctrix Snow (@MistressSnowPhD) July 26, 2023
Kevin Spacey has accusations from over 30 different men. Anybody celebrating his “innocence” is truly delusional.
I wouldn’t even defend anybody with one accuser let alone 30+. But people do not care about victims of sexual assault. It’s still “fuck Kevin Spacey” over here!
— Andrew (@AsAndrewSpeaks) July 26, 2023
Kevin Spacey was found not guilty.
Meanwhile, the 4 other accusers have dropped their complaint against Spacey, after mysteriously dropping dead. #clintocide pic.twitter.com/NKHn84LwnM
— 🇦🇺OurVoicesMatter (@OV_Matter) July 26, 2023
#KevinSpacey acquitted on all charges. #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/FVYMyseSYz
— MysticRule (@rule_mystic) July 26, 2023
