Spacey admits he ‘touched someone sexually in a way they didn’t want’

By Molly Clayton

20:00 11 Jun 2024, updated 20:26 11 Jun 2024

Kevin Spacey has admitted to being ‘handsy’ and ‘pushing boundaries’ despite being cleared of sexually assaulting four men last year.

In a candid interview, the disgraced Hollywood actor revealed that he has battled suicide thoughts since he was charged with indecent assault against four men in 2018.

Speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored, the double Oscar winner said he is now on the brink of bankruptcy due to his million-dollar legal fees and has been forced to sell his home.

He went on to say he’d spoken to a ‘significant’ number of men to personally apologise for his former conduct and that he intends to ‘get back on the horse’.

When asked by Mr Morgan about what he considered bad behaviour, he said: ‘Pushing the boundaries.

‘Being too handsy, touching someone sexually in a way that I didn’t know at the time they didn’t want. I personally, I have caressed people, I have been gentle with people, that is the way that I am.

‘You’re making a pass at someone, you don’t want to be aggressive. You want to be gentle. You want to see if they’re going to respond positively.

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‘I am absolutely 150 per cent prepared to take accountability for those things that I did and the mistakes that I made. ‘Bad, bad, bad behaviour sometimes.’

Spacey was one of the most recognised faces in Hollywood until allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017, with streaming giant Netflix cutting ties with the actor.

He was accused of abusing his fame and power to carry out nine sex attacks on four men during his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. But he insisted the claims were ‘madness’ and accused the claimants of ‘lying for money’.

In July 2023, the actor was dramatically cleared of sexually assaulting the four men following a high-profile trial at Southwark Crown Court in which Sir Elton John gave evidence in his defence.

After being linked to Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, being pictured with the convicted felon during a tour at Buckingham Palace in 2002, Spacey denied ever having been to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein‘s Island.

When quizzed about his friendship with the American, who died in prison in 2019, Spacey said: ‘He was not my friend. I am not a confidant. I’ve never spent time with him.’

Spacey also addressed his sexuality, on the same day as allegations made against him in 2017, and came out as gay in a statement.

He said: ‘I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.’

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Speaking for the first time about his sexuality, Mr Spacey told Mr Morgan said: ‘I was closeted as a man, and I was fiercely closeted for a very long time, and now that I am out, regardless of the fact that I came out in a way that was not the best coming out party ever, I would like to try to be as positive a voice for those who are experiencing difficulty in embracing their own selves and their own lives.’

Asked about his current relationships, meeting a partner and what he had learnt, he said: ‘Well, if I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that a first move doesn’t have to be physical.

‘So I am hopeful and I believe that I will be able to meet someone who is willing to judge me for what they experience and not from headlines.’

Asked where he is living now and if he is going to file for bankruptcy, Spacey said: ‘This week, where I have been living in Baltimore, is being foreclosed on.

‘My house is being sold at auction.

‘I’m not quite sure where I’m going to live now, but I have been in Baltimore since we started shooting House of Cards there.

‘It’s been a couple of times when I thought I was going to file, but we’ve managed to sort of dodge it, at least as of today.

‘I still owe a lot of legal bills that I have not been able to pay.

‘Many millions, yes. The house itself is many millions.’

When asked by Mr Morgan what he intends to do in the near future, he said: ‘Get back on the horse.’