Actor Kevin Spacey believes his career is on an upward trajectory following the resolution of sexual assault allegations and settlements with accusers, stating he feels "much more welcomed" back into Hollywood.
Spacey's career faced significant disruption in 2017 amid numerous allegations of sexual assault and harassment, which he has consistently denied. In 2023, he was acquitted of sexually assaulting four men in a criminal trial in the U.K. Earlier this year, Spacey reached an agreement with three men who had accused him of abuse that occurred between 2000 and 2015. These civil proceedings were scheduled to proceed to trial in London but were halted on March 13, 2026, after the parties agreed to a confidential settlement.
In an appearance on the "Club Random Podcast" with Bill Maher, Spacey, 66, described his recent legal outcomes as a turning point. "I feel less in jail than I did," he stated. "When people actually start to hear the facts, understand what we won in courts, I think people now look at this and think, maybe nine years has been enough."
Spacey likened his period of professional exile to a temporary suspension in sports, suggesting that if he had been a sports figure, he would have been "benched for seven games" rather than ostracized for an extended period. He asserted that he had "won in every court we’ve gone into with a jury."
He specifically addressed the claim made by actor Anthony Rapp, who alleged an unwanted sexual advance in 1986 when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. A New York jury found in 2022 that Rapp did not prove his claim. Representatives for Rapp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Spacey also discussed his personal life, noting that he is "in the market" for a relationship. He previously stated in 2024 regarding the allegations, "I take full responsibility for my past behavior and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who's made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me."
During the fallout from the allegations in 2017, Spacey was removed from the television drama "House of Cards" and edited out of the film "All the Money in the World." He won Academy Awards for his roles in "American Beauty" and "The Usual Suspects."