On Tuesday, a jury found that Anthony Rapp, an actor, was not sexually assaulted by Kevin Spacey when Rapp was 14 years old. At the time, neither of the two guys was a well-known actor appearing in Broadway productions. The #MeToo movement led to the trial, which has been concluded by the verdict.
Deliberations began in the middle of the day when a lawyer representing Rapp, Richard Steigman, requested the jury to penalize Spacey for attempting to initiate sexual contact with Rapp in Spacey’s Manhattan apartment during a party in 1986. According to him, Spacey lied while testifying. The jury was informed by Jennifer Keller, a lawyer representing Spacey, that Rapp made up the encounter and that they should not accept what Rapp claims occurred.
BREAKING: NY court dismisses sex assault lawsuit against actor Kevin Spacey
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 20, 2022
Rapp, 50, and Spacey, 63, each gave testimony for many days throughout the course of the three-week trial. In the lawsuit, $40 million in damages were demanded.
The two-time Oscar winner’s career came to an abrupt end as a result of Rapp and other people’s claims. On the Netflix series “House of Cards,” he lost his job, and subsequent possibilities dried up. Rapp is a regular on the TV program “Star Trek: Discovery,” and he was a member of the Broadway production of “Rentoriginal “‘s cast.
Given that Rapp claimed the encounter took place in a one-bedroom apartment but Spacey only had a studio, Steigman said in his closing argument that the jury should find Spacey to have lied when he claimed the encounter was impossible.
I don’t believe him, remarked Steigman. The attorney said that his client brought the action “to hold Kevin Spacey accountable.”
NYC jury clears Kevin Spacey of Anthony Rapp’s battery allegations in civil sex abuse trial https://t.co/gLXds1QcbF
— POLITICAL HEDGE (@politicalHEDGE) October 20, 2022
This did happen, plain and simple, he added, adding that sometimes it’s best to state the truth simply.
Keller informed U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan that Steigman had violated the trial rules by saying to the jury, “I hope you don’t let him get away with it this time,” after the jury had been taken away to deliberate. The judge felt bad for Keller as a result.
Kaplan established guidelines to prevent jurors from learning about allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey that were not included in the trial’s evidence.
According to Keller, Steigman’s speech was “another apparent, deliberate attempt to alert the jury” about other allegations against Spacey.
She stated, “I’m quite concerned,” adding that the outcome can alter.
In response, Kaplan said that Steigman’s comment “shouldn’t happen” and that if the jury found in favor of Rapp, attorneys could need to submit written arguments on the subject. Additionally, he said that Rapp had erred by bringing up additional allegations against Spacey during his appearance.
In her final remarks, Keller aimed to demonstrate the reasons why Rapp would have made up the tale of how Spacey pulled him up and briefly laid on top of him on a bed in his apartment. At the time, Spacey was 26 and Rapp was 14. Rapp testified in court that he exited the apartment and tried to flee, but a buzzed Spacey stopped him at the entrance and inquired as to whether he was sure he wanted to go.
According to Spacey’s attorney, it’s likely that Rapp made it up based on his prior acting skills in “Precious Sons.” In that play, Ed Harris takes up Rapp’s persona and sleeps on top of him before learning it is actually his kid and not his wife.
She further said that after getting his big break in “Rent” on Broadway, Rapp felt upset that Spacey rose to fame while he only had “minor roles in tiny musicals.” Thus, Mr. Rapp is currently receiving more attention from this trial than he ever has from acting, according to Keller.
