Kevin Spacey informed a U.Ok. court docket that though he was “at instances promiscuous” it didn’t make him a “unhealthy particular person” and cited Steven Spielberg’s relationship along with his second spouse Kate Capshaw, whom he met on the set of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” for instance of a profitable relationship that had begun within the office.
The actor, who’s preventing 12 prices of sexual assault in opposition to 4 males, was within the witness field at Southward Crown Court docket in London for the second consecutive day on Friday.
Spacey was dealing with cross examination however Christine Agnew KC, the barrister for the prosecution.
Agnew requested him whether or not he had discovered it “thrilling” to take sexual dangers. When Spacey requested what she meant by “sexual dangers” she replied “one evening stands.”
“I’ve been very open about truth I used to be at instances promiscuous,” the actor mentioned. “It doesn’t make me a foul particular person.”
“I discover being intimate with one other human being exceptional and exquisite,” he mentioned, including that regardless of Agnew’s give attention to one evening stands he had been “lucky” to have quite a lot of significant relationships “which have lasted my complete life.”
Agnew additionally pressed the “Home of Playing cards” actor on whether or not his celeb standing and energy had been a consider his sexual encounters. “Have you ever discovered that on account of your standing and place folks usually did what you needed?” she requested him.
Spacey laughed and replied: “No.”
“You didn’t discover it simpler to select up folks due to your star energy?” she then requested, to which Spacey mentioned: “I discovered it exhausting to belief folks due to who I used to be.”
Agnew additionally inquired whether or not the actor had discovered it “simpler” to select up potential companions due to his standing. “I’m positive if I had needed to I might have had intercourse on a regular basis with a lot of folks,” he mentioned. “However I wasn’t. I used to be largely keen on growing friendships and relationships with the folks in my life.”
Spacey admitted he had at instances been lonely throughout his tenure as creative director of London theater the Outdated Vic. Agnew then requested whether or not the actor had “reached out to folks sexually to ease that burden of loneliness” to which Spacey responded “Welcome to life,” earlier than laughing. “Sure I do,” he added.
Agnew additionally probed Spacey about relationships within the office and what was acceptable. “In my trade folks do meet within the workspace,” he mentioned though later he clarified: “I’d agree it’s difficult while you meet somebody within the workspace.”
He then cited Steven Spielberg’s relationship with Kate Capshaw for instance of a relationship which fashioned within the office however has remained sturdy. “They’re married and have youngsters and it’s lovely folks can meet within the workspace. It’s a beautiful factor,” he mentioned.
In the direction of the tip of Spacey’s testimony, which completed at lunchtime, the environment in court docket started to show extra fractious, with Decide Wall, who’s presiding over the case, having to remind the actor to reply the query after he both disagreed with its premise or strayed off matter.
At one level, after a back-and-forth over whether or not Spacey remembered having dinner with “Quantum of Solace” actor Tim Piggott Smith on the evening one of many alleged assaults came about, Spacey – apparently addressing the jury – mentioned: “Tim Piggott Smith, if you happen to don’t know who he’s, he was a beautiful actor – ” earlier than Agnew interrupted him. “Mr Spacey Fowler, please, we don’t must know who Tim Piggott Smith is,” she mentioned sharply earlier than urging him to reply the query.
Within the witness field, Spacey denied three of the 4 males’s accounts, saying he had by no means grabbed one of many alleged victims on the freeway and had had a consensual sexual encounter with one other man whom he’d invited again to his flat.
A 3rd man he mentioned he had by no means met and had “made up a complete story from starting to finish” about allegedly being grabbed by the genitals backstage at a charity occasion.
Spacey acknowledged assembly a fourth man, who has accused the actor of making an attempt to kiss him earlier than grabbing his penis at a home celebration in Gloucestershire, however mentioned it had merely been a “clumsy cross.”
Within the afternoon, two witnesses for Spacey gave proof, saying that they had not seen the actor make any lewd feedback or sexually aggressive actions on the charity occasion and disputing the alleged sufferer’s account that Spacey had turned as much as the occasion wanting “dishevelled” and smelling of alcohol.
The case continues.
