Kevin Spacey Breaks Down in Court, Says Publicist Convinced Him to Apologize to Anthony Rapp: ‘It Was Really Wrong’

variety.com:

Kevin Spacey became visibly distraught in a New York City courtroom on Monday afternoon, breaking down as he blamed his publicist for convincing him to publicly apologize to Anthony Rapp in 2017 after the “Star Trek: Discovery” actor accused him of sexual misconduct. “I was being encouraged to apologize and I’ve learned a lesson, which is never apologize for something that you didn’t do,” Spacey said. “I regret my entire statement.” Spacey then choked up and began to cry, as he said, “It’s my responsibility.

I put it out there. It was really wrong. It was really bad and I’m deeply sorry. I have to own that.” Rapp made his allegations in a BuzzFeed article as Hollywood was engulfed in one sexual harassment or abuse scandal after another, with moguls, media players and stars like Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Louis C.K., Matt Lauer and others accused of misdeeds.

In Spacey’s case, he was accused of making sexual advances to a then-14-year-old Rapp in 1986, when Spacey was 26. Spacey has forcefully denied these allegations in court.

At the time of the BuzzFeed article, his response was more contrite, with Spacey coming out as gay and saying he had no memory of the alleged incident.