May 17th 2024.
It's no secret that Kevin Spacey has faced some serious backlash in Hollywood. But despite the controversy surrounding him, some of his fellow actors are standing by him. Liam Neeson and Sharon Stone have both expressed their support for Spacey, causing quite a stir among fans who are disappointed in their stance.
Last year, Spacey was acquitted of 12 sexual offenses that were alleged by four men between 2001 and 2013. One civil case was brought against him by Anthony Rapp, a star of the hit musical Rent, who claimed Spacey had molested him when he was just 14 years old. Spacey won the case in October 2022. However, a recent documentary from Channel 4 called "Spacey Unmasked" has reignited the speculation after airing new testimony from 10 additional alleged victims from incidents in the late 70s. As a result, Spacey has been largely dropped from mainstream Hollywood and has been unable to find work since, despite being cleared in court.
But now, Neeson and Stone have spoken out in support of Spacey, causing a lot of backlash from disappointed fans. Stone called Spacey a "genius" and "generous to a fault," while Neeson said he wants to see Spacey acting again. "I can’t wait to see Kevin back at work. He is a genius," Stone said in an interview with the Telegraph. "He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will." She also added, "It’s terrible that they are blaming him for not being able to come to terms with themselves for using him and negotiating with themselves because they didn’t get their secret agendas." Neeson seconded her sentiments, saying, "I was deeply saddened to learn of these accusations against him. Kevin is a good man and a man of character. He’s sensitive, articulate and non-judgmental, with a terrific sense of humor. He is also one of our finest artists in the theater and on camera. Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly."
However, their statements in support of Spacey have sparked a lot of criticism online. Many fans are disappointed in their decision to stand by Spacey, despite the allegations against him. Some have even gone as far as to call Neeson and Stone "pieces of s**t" for their support. Others have pointed out that while Spacey may have been acquitted, it was still unwise for Neeson to back him given the current climate in Hollywood.
Spacey himself has addressed the accusations, which he has always strongly denied, in a rare interview with Dan Wootton earlier this month as the documentary aired. He took full responsibility for his past behavior and actions, but refused to apologize to anyone who has made up stories or exaggerated stories about him. "I’ve never told someone that if they give me sexual favors, then I will help them out with their career, never," Spacey said. "I’ve clearly hooked up with some men who thought they might get ahead in their careers by having a relationship with me. But there was no conversation with me, it was all part of their plan, a plan that was always destined to fail, because I wasn’t in on the deal."
He also denied any accusations of illegal behavior, stating that while he may have flirted with people in their 20s and made a "clumsy pass" at someone who wasn't interested, it was not illegal. The documentary has also received support from other Hollywood figures such as F Murray Abraham, Sir Trevor Nunn, and Stephen Fry, who called it an "attack." The producer and filmmaker of "Spacey Unmasked," Katherine Haywood, has also insisted that she wanted to keep the documentary as balanced and fair as possible, stating, "There are no monsters and there are no saints. Everybody’s a mix of everything."
Despite the controversy surrounding Spacey, Neeson and Stone have made it clear that they stand by their friend and colleague. Whether or not this will have any impact on Spacey's career remains to be seen. But for now, it seems that some in Hollywood are willing to show their support for the embattled actor.
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