Kevin Spacey did not sexually abuse fellow actor Anthony Rapp, jury finds

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A jury has concluded Kevin Spacey did not sexually abuse fellow actor Anthony Rapp in the 80s, something he has always denied.It brings to a conclusion a trial that was an outgrowth of the MeToo movement.The verdict in the Manhattan federal court civil trial came after jurors considered whether to believe Mr Rapp's claims that he was psychologically damaged after Mr Spacey made a sexual advance on him in 1986.Both were relatively unknown actors in Broadway plays.Mr Spacey testified the encounter never happened, and said he was sure of it.Anthony Rapp, now 50, testified that Spacey climbed on top of him on a bed and pressed his groin into Rapp's hip until he was able to wriggle free.

Spacey denied the allegation on the stand and said he had never been alone with Rapp.A tearful Spacey emerged in the hall outside the courtroom briefly but went back inside.During closing arguments Thursday, Rapp's lawyer urged jurors to discredit Spacey's recollection of the events."It's inconsistent.

It's not worthy of your belief,'' the lawyer, Richard Steigman, said, citing what he claimed were gaps in Spacey's memory and changes in his recollection.Steigman declined comment following the verdict.

Spacey's lawyer, Jennifer Keller, argued during her closing arguments that Rapp's story was a fabrication.She advanced several theories for why Rapp might have lied, including a desire for attention or jealousy of Spacey's acting success.However, Spacey faces a criminal trial in London next year after pleading not guilty to five sex offence charges over alleged assaults between 2005 and 2013.Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox.