Guy Pearce has claimed that Kevin Spacey was “handsy” while they were filming 1997 movie L.A. Confidential together, as he appeared in a bombshell interview with Andrew Denton.
Spacey, 58, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct over the last few months, with more emerging this week as Pearce spoke out.
The first claims came from Anthony Rapp last year, sparking a heartfelt apology from Spacey – who took the opportunity to come out as gay. He claimed he couldn’t remember the alleged incident, and didn’t comment further on other allegations against him.
Now, he’s facing fresh claims from Pearce, 50, who sat down on Denton’s Interview show and said Spacey had been “handsy” with him, before adding: “Tough one to talk about at the moment. Amazing actor. Incredible actor. Slightly difficult time with Kevin, yeah.
“He’s a handsy guy.”
As the audience gasped at the claim, he added: “Thankfully I was 29, and not 14.”
Spacey was first accused of sexual misconduct by Rapp, 46, last year, who claimed the actor made sexual advances on him in 1986 when he was just 14 years old. Spacey would have been 26 at the time.
In a statement on Twitter, Spacey addressed both his sexuality and the alleged sexual attack.
He explained: “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I’m beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago.
“But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.”
Spacey then dropped the bombshell about his personal life, explaining: “This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. I know there are stories out there about me and that some have been fuelled by the fact that I have been so protective about my privacy.
“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.”
Spacey concluded that he wants to deal with this as honestly and openly as possible.
Now, as Pearce’s allegations are aired, the actor is facing three new allegations from men in London, bringing the total number of cases against him to at least eight. The allegations relate to apparent incidents in 1996, 2008, and 2013, TMZ reports.