Actor Kevin Spacey has been found not responsible in a civil trial claiming he sexually abused a 14-year-old boy in the 1980s.
The Hollywood star was previously sued by stage and screen actor Anthony Rapp over an alleged incident after a party at Spacey’s New York apartment in 1986.
Rapp, now 50, was 14 at the time, while Spacey was 26. Spacey The allegations have been “categorically denied”.
Anthony Rapp in May
Rapp’s attorney, Richard Stegman, had urged jurors to make Spacey pay for trying to harass his client. He accused Spacey of lying on the witness stand.
But Spacey’s attorney, Jennifer Keller, told jurors that Star Trek: Discovery star Rapp fabricated the encounter and said they should reject his claims.
Courtroom sketches show Kevin Spacey being cross-examined during New York trial
Rapp told the court Spacey crawled onto his bed and pressed his groin against Rapp’s hips until he was able to squirm freely.
Spacey denied the allegation from the stands and said he was never alone with Rapp.
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Ms. Keller offered several theories during the trial about why Rapp might have lied, including a desire for attention or jealousy of Spacey’s acting success.
“Mr Rapp has received more attention in this trial than he has in his entire acting career,” she said.
Both actors testified within days of the three-week trial. The lawsuit seeks $40 million in damages.
The Manhattan federal court decision came to a conclusion that the trial stemmed from #Me too move.