Kevin Spacey issues fiery statement decrying ‘desperate’ new Channel 4 documentary about alleged abuse

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Kevin Spacey has shared a statement regarding Channel 4‘s forthcoming two-part Spacey Unmasked documentary, which will examine the actor’s “spectacular fall from grace came amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour”.

Last week, the network released the trailer for the recently completed documentary, which it had initially commissioned in 2022 before Spacey was acquitted of sexual assault charges the next year.

According to an official logline: “This two-part series will investigate Spacey’s conduct and talks to multiple men unconnected to that case about their experiences with Kevin Spacey, almost all of whom have never spoken before.”

In a Thursday (2 May) tweet, the former House of Cards star, 64, said he had “repeatedly requested that @Channel4 afford me more than 7 days to respond to allegations made against me dating back 48 years and provide me with sufficient details to investigate these matters”.

He claimed that Channel 4 “refused on the basis that they feel that asking for a response in 7 days to new, anonymized and non-specific allegations is a ‘fair opportunity’ for me to refute any allegations made against me”.

“I will not sit back and be attacked by a dying network’s one-sided ‘documentary’ about me in their desperate attempt for ratings. There's a proper channel to handle allegations against me and it’s not Channel 4,” Spacey added.

“Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated,” he said, telling followers to “tune in this weekend to see my response”.

“Spacey Unmasked will broadcast on 6th and 7th May. Kevin Spacey has been given sufficient opportunity to respond,” Channel 4 said in a statement to The Independent.

In 2023, Spacey was found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men, following a four-week trial in London.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

The Oscar-winner was cleared of all nine charges, including sexual assault, which were alleged to have been committed between 2001 and 2013.

Earlier this year, Spacy was ordered to pay $1m to the production company behind House of Cards in a settlement involving sexual harassment allegations made against him by crewmembers.

He was originally ordered to pay $31m in a judgment in 2021, after he was found to have breached his contract by violating a sexual harassment policy.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your nearest Rape Crisis organisation for specialist, independent and confidential support. For more information, visit their website here.