Actor Kevin Spacey stated Tuesday he was “glad to be working again” as he accepted a lifetime’s achievement award from a charity on the sideline of the Cannes movie competition.
Spacey’s presence at a gala dinner organized by the Better World Fund marks one other step within the rehabilitation of the star who has been dogged by sexual assault allegations.
“I feel surrounded by so much affection and love. I’ve heard from so many of my friends and colleagues and co-stars in the last week since this award was announced,” he instructed reporters on the occasion. “It’s very nice to be back.”
Asked if it was the start of a comeback, he replied: “I’m glad to be working, I’ll tell you that.”
The invitation to Cannes — the place Spacey has not been seen on the purple carpet since 2016 — comes as the primary competition has been imposing a no-tolerance coverage on sexual misconduct, below stress from lawmakers and #MeToo anti-abuse activists.
French actor Theo Navarro-Mussy — who denies rape allegations made by three ladies — was barred final week from the premiere of a French movie within the working for the competition’s prime prize.
A competition spokesperson declined to remark about Spacey’s presence in Cannes when contacted by AFP.
Spacey was acquitted of 9 instances of alleged intercourse offenses in Britain in 2023 and a New York court docket dismissed a $40 million civil sexual misconduct lawsuit towards the “Usual Suspects” actor in 2022.
But final May new claims of inappropriate sexual habits emerged in a British tv documentary, “Spacey Unmasked”.
In it, 10 males not concerned within the UK court docket case towards Spacey accused him of behaving inappropriately in direction of them.
The 65-year-old has all the time denied any wrongdoing.
In February, legal professionals for former actor Ruari Cannon instructed AFP that he was taking a case to Britain’s High Court towards Spacey and London’s Old Vic Theatre, the place the actor was inventive director between 2003 and 2015.
In the documentary, Cannon accused Spacey of getting touched him inappropriately in London when he was 21 years previous and the American star was 53.
© 2025 AFP