Celebrities React: Anthony Rapp Reveals Kevin Spacey Made Sexual Advance On Him At 14

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Celebrities are reacting to Anthony Rapp revealing that when he was 14 years old, Kevin Spacey made a sexual advance on the then-teenaged Broadway star. After Rapp’s allegations were published on Sunday, Spacey apologized to him and also came out as gay. See Hollywood stars’ reactions here to Rapp bravely sharing his harrowing experience, as well as to Spacey seemingly pivoting from his inexcusable behavior to instead acknowledge he’s gay.

Earlier, Rapp shared with Buzzfeed that in 1986, when he was a 14-year-old actor on Broadway, he was invited to a party at Spacey’s New York apartment. At the end of the evening, Rapp recalled Spacey lifted him “like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold,” and put him down on a bed, where he laid on top of the young boy against his will. Rapp noted that he was encouraged to come forward now because of the sexual assault and harassment scandal surrounding Harvey Weinstein. He later added on Twitter, “I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me.”

In the wake of Rapp’s allegation, Spacey issued a statement in which he both came out of the closest and apologized to the “Star Trek: Discovery” star for his “deeply inappropriate drunken behavior” that he claims he doesn’t remember from more than three decades ago. After noting that he has “a lot of respect and admiration” for Rapp as an actor, Spacey said, “I am sorry,” and claimed it “encouraged” him to publicly admit, “I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.”

Since Spacey’s statement (below), a number of celebrities have shared their reactions to both Rapp’s revelation and Spacey’s response. Rose McGowan, who has been vocal about having been sexually assaulted by Weinstein, tweeted, “Dear fellow media: Keep focus on #AnthonyRapp BE THE VICTIM’S VOICE. Help us level the playing field.” She continued in another message, “Bye bye, Spacey goodbye, it’s your turn to cry, that’s why we’ve gotta say goodbye. #ROSEARMY.” Meanwhile, Debra Messing wrote to Rapp, “You are brave, and my heart breaks for that 14 year old.”

Noting how Spacey pivoted from apologizing to Rapp for the hurt he caused him, and instead the opportunity to come out as gay, Billy Eichner wrote, “That Kevin Spacey statement. Nope. Absolutely not. Nope.” He added, “Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.” Gossip Cop will continue to update as more celebrities react to Rapp exposing Spacey’s sexual advance on him when he was just 14, and how the older actor shifted the conversation from taking responsibility for his actions to revealing he’s gay.

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— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017