One of actor Kevin Spacey ‘s accusers described the Oscar-winner in court docket Monday as a “slippery, snaky” predator who handsome, younger males have been warned to keep away from.
The man, who labored with the American actor when he got here to the Old Vic Theatre in London within the early 2000s, mentioned Spacey advised him he may introduce him to Hollywood stars. But the person mentioned that phrase across the playhouse was that he needs to be cautious round Spacey.
“It was well known he was up to no good,” the person mentioned in a video of his police interview performed for jurors in Spacey’s sexual assault trial. “He was almost right from the get-go grooming me.”
He mentioned Spacey made him uncomfortable querying him about his sexuality, then turned “touchy feely” and graduated to aggressive groping once they have been alone collectively.
The man, who can’t be recognized below British regulation, likened Spacey to the villain he performs within the 1995 thriller “Se7en” a few serial killer motivated by the seven lethal sins.
“He’s a bit like that, a bit creepy,” the person mentioned in his police interview final yr.
Spacey, 63, has pleaded not responsible to a dozen costs involving 4 males for occasions that date from 2001 to 2013. The costs embrace sexual assault, indecent assault and inflicting an individual to have interaction in penetrative sexual exercise with out consent.
He may go to jail if convicted, although Spacey advised a German journal that he expects he’ll be supplied work “the second I’m cleared of those costs.”
The case anticipated to final 4 weeks continues Tuesday earlier than a jury of 9 males and three girls in Southwark Crown Court.
Once one of many greatest actors of his era, Spacey gained an Academy Award for supporting actor in “The Usual Suspects” in 1995 and finest actor Oscar for the 1999 film “American Beauty.” He’s additionally gained awards for the stage and small display.
His profession dried up when sexual misconduct allegations towards him arose because the #MeToo motion exploded. He was written off the Netflix political thriller “House of Cards,” and reduce from the finished movie “All the Money within the World.”
The actor, who has houses within the U.S. and London, is free on bail. He served as inventive director on the Old Vic from 2003 till 2015.
The man mentioned he reacted with horror when Spacey made first contact by rubbing his neck early of their work relationship within the early 2000s.
“The first time that he touched me was just a massive shock,” he testified. “I just don’t like people’s hands on me.”
When he complained to a lady he labored for, she laughed it off and she or he mentioned, “You can cope, you can handle it. We all know what he’s like,” he mentioned.
The man mentioned he determined he “didn’t want to upset the apple cart” and received on together with his job.
But as Spacey escalated to grabbing the person within the crotch and taking the person’s hand and utilizing it to rub his personal privates over the pants, he started to dread when Spacey would return to London.
Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs on cross-examination advised that the person, who was disguised in court docket behind a curtain, was confused by the touching and even received a thrill from it.
“Nothing happened between us. He was assaulting me,” the man said. “I was doing my job and he was the one touching me.”’
Gibbs confronted the person with a photograph he posted six years in the past on social media of him and Spacey wherein his arm seems to be round Spacey’s again.
“Did it make you feel sick to stand there side by side?” Gibbs requested.
The man mentioned he used the picture to advertise his enterprise.
“Anyone who does social media would have killed for a picture like that,” the person mentioned.
He mentioned the ultimate straw for working with Spacey got here on a day he was driving him to a celebrity-studded summer time gala in 2004 or 2005 when the star violently gripped his crotch and he almost ran off the highway.
“He grabbed me really hard and it really hurt,” he said. “I pushed him against the door and said, ‘Don’t do that again or I will knock you out.’”
“That’s such a turn on to me,” he said Spacey replied. “You’re such a man.”
Gibbs, nonetheless, mentioned that Spacey solely attended that social gathering as soon as — three or 4 years sooner than the witness claimed.
The protection lawyer additionally confirmed jurors a snapshot the person had despatched Spacey of himself as thanks for supporting him on a hike for charity within the Rocky Mountains of North America. The man had additionally stored a heat letter Spacey had written him after donating 5,000-pound ($6,350) for the trek.
The man mentioned he advised a number of folks in his life about his expertise with Spacey, fearing it may have an effect on his profession. He mentioned he determined to return ahead final yr, after Spacey had been charged with assaulting the three different alleged victims within the case.
“That’s a big part of it,” the person mentioned. “Strength in numbers, isn’t it?”
“Or is it that in 2022, you saw a bandwagon coming past and you decided to hop on board?” Gibbs requested.
“That’s not true at all,” the person mentioned.
Two a long time later, the person mentioned he has by no means overcome the disgrace he felt and can’t convey himself to view Spacey’s movies or TV exhibits.
“I can’t stand watching the man. It makes me feel sick,” the person mentioned.
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