Kevin Spacey Criticized for Using Apology to Anthony Rapp to Come Out
- 7 years ago
Kevin Spacey Criticized for Using Apology to Anthony Rapp to Come Out
“They do so because they have the power, and they chose to abuse it.”
Zachary Quinto, an actor, said in a statement that Mr. Spacey had come out not “as a point of pride”
that could inspire children but “as a calculated manipulation to deflect attention from the very serious accusation that he attempted to molest one.”
“I am sorry that Kevin only saw fit to acknowledge his truth when he thought it
would serve him — just as his denial served him for so many years,” he said.
On Sunday, BuzzFeed News reported that Anthony Rapp, an actor, said Mr. Spacey had made a sexual advance toward him in 1986, when Mr. Rapp was 14.
“Coming out stories should not be used to deflect from allegations of sexual assault,” Sarah Kate Ellis, president
and chief executive of Glaad, a gay rights organization, said in a statement.
But some of those who might have supported him were instead incensed by the implication
that his sexuality was relevant to an accusation, reported by BuzzFeed News, that he had made a sexual advance toward a 14-year-old boy 31 years ago.
“This is not a coming out story about Kevin Spacey,
but a story of survivorship by Anthony Rapp and all those who bravely speak out against unwanted sexual advances.
George Takei, who has used his large social media following to advocate social-justice causes, said in an emailed statement
that Mr. Rapp’s accusations were about power, not sexuality.
“They do so because they have the power, and they chose to abuse it.”
Zachary Quinto, an actor, said in a statement that Mr. Spacey had come out not “as a point of pride”
that could inspire children but “as a calculated manipulation to deflect attention from the very serious accusation that he attempted to molest one.”
“I am sorry that Kevin only saw fit to acknowledge his truth when he thought it
would serve him — just as his denial served him for so many years,” he said.
On Sunday, BuzzFeed News reported that Anthony Rapp, an actor, said Mr. Spacey had made a sexual advance toward him in 1986, when Mr. Rapp was 14.
“Coming out stories should not be used to deflect from allegations of sexual assault,” Sarah Kate Ellis, president
and chief executive of Glaad, a gay rights organization, said in a statement.
But some of those who might have supported him were instead incensed by the implication
that his sexuality was relevant to an accusation, reported by BuzzFeed News, that he had made a sexual advance toward a 14-year-old boy 31 years ago.
“This is not a coming out story about Kevin Spacey,
but a story of survivorship by Anthony Rapp and all those who bravely speak out against unwanted sexual advances.
George Takei, who has used his large social media following to advocate social-justice causes, said in an emailed statement
that Mr. Rapp’s accusations were about power, not sexuality.