‘Over-indulgence, not predatory behaviour’: Hollywood CEO says Kevin Spacey deserves forgiveness

A HOLLYWOOD executive has been accused of “excusing” Kevin Spacey’s alleged sexual assault of a minor in a shocking tweet.

Actor Anthony Rapp, left, this week accused Kevin Spacey of “trying to get with me sexually” when he was 14 and the House of Cards star was 26. Picture: Stephen Lovekin and Robyn Beck/AFP

THE head of a Hollywood entertainment company has been criticised for appearing to excuse actor Kevin Spacey’s alleged assault of a minor, describing the incident as “not predatory behaviour”.

Kim Richards, chief executive and chairman of Allied Artists International, tweeted in response to the House of Cards star’s apology to Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp, who this week alleged Spacey made sexual advances on him when he was 14.

In the statement tweeted out on Monday, Spacey said he was “beyond horrified” to hear the story, saying he did not remember the encounter and apologising for “what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour”.

“If true, acting on impulse while inebriated speaks to overindulgence, not predatory behaviour,” Richards tweeted. “You’re good & decent, deserving forgiveness.”

In a follow-up tweet after being accused of “excusing sexual assault of a minor”, Richards said he was “not excusing anything”.

“If he did it, it was clearly wrong & can’t be excused, but it was 30 yrs ago while admittedly drunk,” he wrote. “By overindulged I was referring to drinking to excess & I don’t drink or do drugs. Kevin takes responsibility but doesn’t remember it.”

pic.twitter.com/X6ybi5atr5

— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017

If true, acting on impulse while inebriated speaks to over-indulgence, not predatory behavior. You're good & decent, deserving forgiveness.

— Kim Richards (@kimrichardsaa) October 30, 2017

Is everyone on this thread making note of who this person is?👆👆👆
CEO of Allied Artists excusing sexual assault of a minor

— Lydia Snider (@LydiaSnider) October 30, 2017

I'm not excusing anything. If he did it, it was clearly wrong & can't be excused, but it was 30 yrs ago while admittedly drunk.

— Kim Richards (@kimrichardsaa) October 30, 2017

Are you insane? Stop making excuses for this piece of ...

— Anna Khait (@Annakhait) October 30, 2017

If your impulse is to pound a 14 year old boy you're NOT good and decent

How many times have you "over-indulged" Kim?

— Cynical & Political (@cynicpolitic) October 30, 2017

By over-indulged I was referring to drinking to excess & I don't drink or do drugs. Kevin takes responsibility but doesn't remember it.

— Kim Richards (@kimrichardsaa) October 30, 2017

Richards, who according to his Twitter biography has “more than 30 years of experience in the music, film and television industries”, has not made any further comment on Spacey.

The now 46-year-old Rapp told BuzzFeed he decided to go public with his allegations against the 58-year-old star due to the growing willingness to speak out against sexual misconduct in Hollywood in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Spacey, who was accused of coming out as gay in his apology statement in a bid to deflect from the Rapp’s allegation, is now at the centre of his own growing scandal, with claims his sexual misconduct was an open secret in the industry.

Comedian Seth McFarlane, who also made a pointed joke about Weinstein at the 2013 Oscars, referenced Spacey in a 2005 episode of Family Guy, in which baby Stewie runs naked through a crowd shouting, “Help! I’ve escaped from Kevin Spacey’s basement! Help me!”

It came as streaming giant Netflix confirmed it was cancelling tentpole drama House of Cards after its sixth season, which is currently being filmed, but said the decision was made months ago and not in response to the Spacey allegations.

Netflix and producer Media Rights Capital on Monday issued a statement. “Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey,” it said.

“In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”

In a statement, House of Cards creator Beau Willimon said he “neither witnessed nor was aware of any inappropriate behaviour on set or off” during the time he worked with Spacey. “That said, I take reports of such behaviour seriously and this is no exception,” he said. “I feel for Mr Rapp and I support his courage.”

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