Kevin Spacey settles out of court with 3 men over alleged sexual assaults

Three men who accused Kevin Spacey of sexual assault have reached a settlement agreement, court documents revealed Wednesday. The confidential settlement, approved by High Court judge Christina Lambert on March 13, ends civil claims that were scheduled to go to trial in London later this year.

The accusers alleged that Spacey, 66, sexually assaulted them between 2000 and 2013, claims the actor has consistently denied. Judge Lambert ordered a stay on all proceedings, noting the parties had “agreed to the terms of the settlement.” The financial details and specific conditions of the agreement were not disclosed in public court documents.

“By consent, it is ordered that all further proceedings against the defendant in these actions be stayed upon the terms set out in this order and in the confidential schedule,” the judicial order stated.

Two of the civil claimants had previously testified during Spacey’s 2023 criminal trial in London, where the actor faced nine sexual offense charges brought by four men. In that case, a jury acquitted Spacey on all counts after deliberations.

This settlement marks another legal victory for the Oscar-winning actor, who has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct since 2017. In October 2022, Spacey successfully defended himself against a $40 million civil lawsuit in New York brought by actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused Spacey of making unwanted sexual advances toward him in 1986 when Rapp was 14 years old.

Representatives for Spacey have not yet commented on the settlement.

Once considered among Hollywood’s most talented performers, Spacey’s career collapsed amid the wave of allegations that emerged during the early days of the #MeToo movement. Before the accusations, Spacey had built a formidable reputation across film, television, and theater.

His distinguished career includes two Academy Awards—Best Supporting Actor for his role as the enigmatic criminal Roger “Verbal” Kint in the 1995 thriller “The Usual Suspects” and Best Actor for his portrayal of a middle-aged man in a midlife crisis in the 1999 drama “American Beauty.” Other notable film credits include “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “LA Confidential,” “Seven,” and “Baby Driver.”

Spacey also garnered critical acclaim for his work on television, particularly for his role as the manipulative politician Frank Underwood in Netflix’s political drama “House of Cards.” When allegations against him first surfaced, Netflix severed ties with the actor, writing him out of the final season of the show.

Beyond the screen, Spacey maintained a significant presence in theater, serving as the artistic director of London’s prestigious Old Vic Theatre from 2004 to 2015. Following the allegations, the Old Vic conducted an internal investigation and reported receiving 20 personal testimonies of alleged inappropriate behavior by Spacey during his tenure.

The entertainment industry’s response to the allegations was swift and severe. Multiple projects featuring Spacey were shelved or reshot, including Ridley Scott’s “All the Money in the World,” where Spacey’s completed performance as J. Paul Getty was famously replaced by Christopher Plummer just weeks before the film’s release.

Despite the legal victories, Spacey’s career remains significantly diminished from its previous heights. The actor has largely retreated from public view, though he has occasionally released videos on social media addressing his followers, sometimes in character as Frank Underwood.

The settlement of these civil claims closes another chapter in Spacey’s ongoing legal battles, though the impact on his professional rehabilitation remains uncertain in an industry still navigating the aftermath of the #MeToo movement.