Thursday, March 28, 2024

Netflix Cancels ‘House of Cards’ Amid Kevin Spacey’s Molestation Claim

Kevin Spacey in “House of Cards”
Kevin Spacey in “House of Cards”

*Netflix has announced the cancellation of its critically acclaimed original series “House of Cards” after its upcoming sixth season in 2018, a move that came within 12 hours of actor Anthony Rapp alleging that its star Kevin Spacey molested him in 1986 – when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26.

The decision to end “House of Cards” was made several months ago by Netflix and producers Media Rights Capital according to Deadline. But, key cast and creatives were only alerted this morning in a series of calls.

“Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey,’ said the companies in a joint statement today. “In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”

Anthony Rapp attends the Star Trek: Discovery panel during 2017 New York Comic Con - Day 3 at Theater at Madison Square Gardenon October 7, 2017 in New York City.
Anthony Rapp attends the Star Trek: Discovery panel during 2017 New York Comic Con – Day 3 at Theater at Madison Square Gardenon October 7, 2017 in New York City.

In a Buzzfeed article late Sunday, Rapp detailed what happened at a party at Spacey’s NYC apartment back in 1986, when both were starring in separate plays on Broadway. Rapp said that Spacey drunkenly picked him up, placed him on a bed and climbed on top of him. Rapp said he was able to get free and flee into the bathroom, before eventually leaving the apartment.

Spacey apologized on social media saying he “did not remember the encounter” but was “horrified” by what Rapp described. “If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior,” Spacey also said.

In a move that has sparked outrage, Spacey used the apology to come out of the closet, announcing publicly that he “choose(s) now to live as a gay man.” Critics accused him of trying to distract from the allegations of pedophilia.

As for Rapp himself, the actor said on Twitter after Spacey’s apology and announcement that he had “no further comment ..at this time.”

Anthony Rapp at age 14, during Broadway run of Precious Sons, starring Ed Harris and Judith Ivey, for which Rapp was receiving significant praise.
Anthony Rapp at age 14, during Broadway run of Precious Sons, starring Ed Harris and Judith Ivey, for which Rapp was receiving significant praise.

“House of Cards” is currently in production in Maryland on its sixth season. Spacey plays the manipulative and murderous now ex-President Francis Underwood in the Robin Wright co-starring series. Season 5 of the show ended with Wright’s Claire Underwood now in the Oval Office as America’s first female POTUS as Spacey’s Frank Underwood resigned in disgrace.

The 13-episode Season 6 of “House of Cards” is expected to debut in mid-2018 on Netflix.

Below, an excerpt of the Buzzfeed News story detailing Rapp’s allegations against Spacey:

When he arrived at Spacey’s apartment, Rapp quickly realized that he was the only nonadult there — which, again, did not worry him, since he so often had found himself in similar situations as a child actor. The bigger issue: “I didn’t know anyone,” he said. “And I was quickly kind of bored.”

Rapp said he ended up wandering into the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed, and watching TV well past midnight. 

At some point, Rapp said he turned to see Spacey standing at the bedroom door. And that’s when he first realized that everyone else had left the party. They were alone.

“My memory was that I thought, Oh, everybody’s gone. Well, yeah, I should probably go home,” Rapp said. Spacey, he recalled, “sort of stood in the doorway, kind of swaying. My impression when he came in the room was that he was drunk.” Rapp doesn’t remember Spacey saying anything to him. Instead, Rapp said, “He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I don’t, like, squirm away initially, because I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then he lays down on top of me.”

“He was trying to seduce me,” Rapp said. “I don’t know if I would have used that language. But I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually.”

Rapp recalled this all happening — Spacey appearing at the door, coming into the room, picking him up, and putting him on the bed — in one clumsy action, with Spacey landing at a slight angle on top of him. He said Spacey “was, like, pressing into me,” and that he remembers Spacey “tightening his arms.” But while he can’t recall exactly how long Spacey remained on top of him, Rapp said he was able to “squirm” away after a short period.

After pushing Spacey off him, Rapp remembered he was able to step into the bathroom and close the door. “I was like, ‘What is happening?’” he said. “I saw on the counter next to the sink a picture of him having his arm around a man. So I think on some level I was like, Oh. He’s gay. I guess. Then I opened the door, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to go home now.’ He followed me to the front door of the apartment, and as I opened the door to leave, he was leaning on the front door[frame]. And he was like, ‘Are you sure you wanna go?’ I said, ‘Yes, good night,’ and then I did leave.”

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