London theatre says 20 men made allegations against Kevin Spacey

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London theatre says 20 men made allegations against Kevin Spacey

 

FILE PHOTO - 71st Tony Awards Arrivals New York City, U.S., 11/06/2017 - Actor Kevin Spacey. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The Old Vic theatre in London said on Thursday it had received 20 separate allegations of inappropriate conduct by Kevin Spacey from 20 men who came into contact with him at the theatre, or in connection with it, between 1995 and 2013.

 

The theatre was reporting on the findings of an investigation it launched on Oct. 31.

 

Richard Miskella, a lawyer from the firm Lewis Silkin who conducted the investigation on behalf of the Old Vic, said that it had encouraged 14 of the men to talk to the police because of the nature of the allegations.

 

He did not say whether any of them had done so.

 

Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos alleged two weeks ago that Spacey had behaved inappropriately towards him when both were working at the Old Vic. It was not clear whether Cavazos was among the 20 men identified in the Lewis Silkin investigation.

 

Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the allegations.

 

Spacey has made no public comment about the allegation from Cavazos or about any alleged misconduct related to the Old Vic, where he was artistic director from 2004 to 2015.

 

His Los Angeles-based lawyer could not be reached by telephone and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

 

The Old Vic said it had asked Spacey to participate in its investigation but had received no response from him. It said it was not able to say whether the allegations were true or not.

 

Spacey is one of several prominent names in entertainment to face allegations of sexual misconduct following complaints by multiple women against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

 

Spacey first became embroiled in the wider scandal when actor Anthony Rapp accused him on Oct. 29 of trying to seduce him in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26.

 

Spacey said he did not remember the incident but apologised to Rapp, saying that if it happened it would have been "deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour".

 

In the most recent public statement from Spacey's representatives on Nov. 2, they said that he was "taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment", without giving further details.

 

Miskella said the alleged incidents relating to the Old Vic ranged from behaviour that made people feel uncomfortable to sexually inappropriate behaviour. He said the allegations had come from 16 former members of staff and four others.

 

Miskella gave no names or details about the allegations because those coming forward had done so with the promise of confidentiality.

 

More than 50 women have said that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades and the Hollywood producer has been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

 

Police in New York, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and London have said they are investigating allegations of sexual assault or rape by Weinstein. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.

 

Reuters has not been able to independently verify allegations made against Spacey or Weinstein.

 

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Jon Boyle)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-17

[AllThaiedUp]

Kevin Spacey and men coming forward now? .. dammit too funny !!

[marko kok prong]

That,s what happens in these shakespeian  plays all the men in tights,cod peices and such like.

[Golgota]

I start to be a bit pissed off by all this.

If all those people, whatever the gender, were raped or sexually abused, they should go to trial and not just claim they were abused. 

Edited November 17, 2017 by Golgota

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, Golgota said:

I start to be a bit pissed off by all this.

If all those people, whatever the gender, were raped or sexually abused, they should go to trial and not just claim they were abused. 

It's not always that simple when there are power relationships involved. With a same sex event, there is also some stigma attached to that as well. 

[Golgota]

9 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's not always that simple when there are power relationships involved. With a same sex event, there is also some stigma attached to that as well. 

I do not deny this

I just see a lot of people denouncing on twitter and not following their denounciation with police report.

I mean they are probaly true for 90% of them (10% of opportunists, at least) but when they are publicly speaking on twitter they should be able to speak in front of a police member.

 

[smotherb]

I have to believe there are copycat complainers. However, sexual harassment does occur and should not be tolerated. The problem, as I see it, is largely a matter of opinion. Certainly, there are situations in which sexual advances are made and not welcomed. However, there are also incidents of sexual advances which were consensual at the time, but somehow after the fact have become unwelcome. Further complicating this situation is the fact that a consensual assessment by one member of the fray may not be consensual by the other's assessment. At the time of the incident, some offended parties do not make their feelings known out of fear, embarrassment, obligation, inferiority, deference, or whatever. Under the law, it is sexual harassment if one party does not consent, even if that non-consent was unknown to the other party.

[TheMekon]

Wonder what their wives will say ?

 

[Here It Is]

1 hour ago, Golgota said:

... they should be able to speak in front of a police member.

No more members, please.  

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

It's not always that simple when there are power relationships involved. With a same sex event, there is also some stigma attached to that as well. 

 

It's very sad that there would still be stigma attaching to same sex assaults more than different sex ones.

 

A sexual assault is a serious crime and should be treated that way. Whoever is involved.

 

Take your point about power relationships. But also, there must be dangers that some were using the relationship to further their careers at the time and therefore may have even encouraged it; and also that some now see an inventive mind as a chance to claim so fame. That's not to suggest all fit into this categories or to suggest that investigations shouldn't take place.

 

But no one should be tried by the media, have organizations cancel contracts, and be pilloried before the police have investigated and prosecutors decided there are cases to answer. 

 

 

[Pesche]

5 hours ago, smotherb said:

I have to believe there are copycat complainers. However, sexual harassment does occur and should not be tolerated. The problem, as I see it, is largely a matter of opinion. Certainly, there are situations in which sexual advances are made and not welcomed. However, there are also incidents of sexual advances which were consensual at the time, but somehow after the fact have become unwelcome. Further complicating this situation is the fact that a consensual assessment by one member of the fray may not be consensual by the other's assessment. At the time of the incident, some offended parties do not make their feelings known out of fear, embarrassment, obligation, inferiority, deference, or whatever. Under the law, it is sexual harassment if one party does not consent, even if that non-consent was unknown to the other party.

 

Yes alright! True!

 

However,

Americans are so prude and educated the way that already seeing someone naked is sin!

Americans are even offended by the sight of a nipple!

Look at the American humor... It is so cheap and under the belt. BUT they are PRUDE narrow thinking TV-saturated, manipulated people and the MEDIA makes headlines out of it to make more profit!

Americans, so decadent and fat and ONLY greedy for gossips...

EVERYONE has the right of a "private garden" as far as he doesn't hurt anyone.

If it is not OK, then it is NOT OK!

But don't come after ages and profit of the weakness of a fellow man and a great artist.

 

Now it is the new trend to know who abused whom, since there are no further news than the usual "Trump", North Korea, selling weapons and all that boring Jazz!

 

So lets lapidate some big names for the sake of HEADLINES!

 

That's the "opinion" of a majority manipulated by the MEDIA

 

What's next? During interview with a Star: "Are you shaved or are you waxed?

 

Shocking News always sell the best!

[madusa]

8 hours ago, Golgota said:

I start to be a bit pissed off by all this.

If all those people, whatever the gender, were raped or sexually abused, they should go to trial and not just claim they were abused. 

why bring up the issue after so many years? They should immediately sue or report it to the authority concerned decide there and then how they want to deal with this sexual molestation. If you waited so long and then bring up the matter it is going to be questionable especially after the accused became famous.

If this trend goes on many famous people could become victims if someone wants to tarnish their names.

[Scott]

1 hour ago, madusa said:

why bring up the issue after so many years? They should immediately sue or report it to the authority concerned decide there and then how they want to deal with this sexual molestation. If you waited so long and then bring up the matter it is going to be questionable especially after the accused became famous.

If this trend goes on many famous people could become victims if someone wants to tarnish their names.

In many of these situations the matters were reported.   Not always to the police, but sometimes to employers or others responsible for dealing with personnel issues.  Many, many of the allegations made against Spacey and others do not rise to the level of a crime and some of those that did, would hardly be easily prosecuted.

 

In some instances with famous, the matters are settled out of court.   In other instances, the person was not yet famous and so the incidents did not attract any special attention.   As their fame grew, so did speculation about their background and history.  

 

[madusa]

8 hours ago, Scott said:

In many of these situations the matters were reported.   Not always to the police, but sometimes to employers or others responsible for dealing with personnel issues.  Many, many of the allegations made against Spacey and others do not rise to the level of a crime and some of those that did, would hardly be easily prosecuted.

 

In some instances with famous, the matters are settled out of court.   In other instances, the person was not yet famous and so the incidents did not attract any special attention.   As their fame grew, so did speculation about their background and history.  

 

Scott, you got a good answer there. I often wonder do these people really enjoy forcing themselves on those who depend on their help in their work or under their authority in work place?

They enjoy having power over others who are weak. They are sick. Imagine all these sick people walking around making movies for you to watch.

[Scott]

A lot of people who are in power live in what I can only describe as an 'alternate reality'.   They have money, power and influence.   There every wish is someone's command.  

 

Some, no doubt, have mental issues, but many just haven't, for much of their life, had to struggle for anything and, like many, the more they get the more they want.

 

Their alternate reality has now clashed with the 'real' reality.    It's time to pay the piper.