Skip to main content

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

LONDON (AP) — Three men who alleged that actor Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted them have settled their civil claims before going to trial at the High Court in London, courts document show.

The three men alleged that the Academy Award-winning star abused them at times between 2000 and 2013. Spacey has denied the allegations.

Civil trials were due to start later this year, but case judge Christina Lambert last week ordered the proceedings paused, saying the parties had “agreed to the terms of the settlement.”

“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 judge said.

The terms were not disclosed and the judge did not make any order about costs.

The order, dated March 13, was made public on Wednesday.

Spacey’s representatives have been approached for comment.

Spacey, now 66, was tried in London in 2023 on nine alleged sex offenses against four men, and acquitted on all counts.

Two of the civil claimants, whose identities are protected by legal orders, gave evidence during Spacey’s criminal trial.

Spacey also successfully defended himself against a $40 million civil lawsuit in New York in 2022 brought by “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp.

One of the most celebrated actors of his generation until his career was derailed by sex abuse allegations, Spacey starred in films including “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “LA Confidential” and the TV political thriller “House of Cards.” He won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie “American Beauty.”

Spacey was artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre from 2004 to 2015.

Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but it's the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said. Beijing has been increasing pressure in recent years on the democratically governed island that it claims as its own territory. Two lawmakers reached by the AP on Thursday rejected the demand for an apology, while the other two could not be immediately reached. New Zealand's government said it would express concern about the travel bans to Beijing. The elected officials visited Taipei in May, as New Zealand parliamentarians have done “for decades,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.
Read Next Story