Kevin Spacey comes out after actor alleges sexual misconduct

KEVIN Spacey has announced that he is gay, in a dramatic statement issued after an actor alleged the star hit on him when he was 14.

HOLLYWOOD A-lister Kevin Spacey has come out as gay in a dramatic statement, issued after a fellow actor accused him of sexual misconduct.

Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, 46, detailed an alleged incident that he says happened at a 1986 party at Spacey’s house when Rapp was 14 years old and Spacey was 26, in a new interview with Buzzfeed.

In a statement posted to his official Twitter account, Spacey said he was “beyond horrified” to learn of Rapp’s allegations, but said the story had encouraged him to “address other things about my life.”

Rumours about Spacey’s sexuality have been rife for many years— and the actor even made nods to the industry whispers when hosting this year’s Tonys, joking about coming out of the closet.

In today’s statement, Spacey acknowledged that there had been “stories out there” about his private life over the years.

“As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this openly and honestly and that starts with examining my own behaviour.”

Rapp’s allegation dates back to 1986, when was a child actor earning praise for a Broadway run of the play Precious Sons. Spacey, then a relative unknown, was also on Broadway at the time, and Rapp alleges that Spacey invited him to attend a party he was hosting in his Manhattan apartment.

Arriving at the party alone, Rapp says he found he was the only non-adult in attendance, and spent most of the evening sat in a bedroom watching television.

As the party ended, Rapp alleges that Spacey appeared in the room visibly drunk and moved towards him.

“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,” Rapp alleged to Buzzfeed.

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