One of actor Kevin Spacey 香蕉视频直播榮 accusers described the Oscar-winner in court Monday as a 香蕉视频直播渟lippery, snaky香蕉视频直播 predator who good-looking, young men were warned to avoid.
The man, who worked with the American actor when he came to the Old Vic Theatre in London in the early 2000s, said Spacey told him he could introduce him to Hollywood stars. But the man said that word around the playhouse was that he should be careful around Spacey.
香蕉视频直播淚t was well known he was up to no good,香蕉视频直播 the man said in a video of his police interview played for jurors in Spacey香蕉视频直播檚 sexual assault trial. 香蕉视频直播淗e was almost right from the get-go grooming me.香蕉视频直播
He said Spacey made him uncomfortable querying him about his sexuality, then became 香蕉视频直播渢ouchy feely香蕉视频直播 and graduated to aggressive groping when they were alone together.
The man, who cannot be identified under British law, likened Spacey to the villain he plays in the 1995 thriller 香蕉视频直播淪e7en香蕉视频直播 about a serial killer motivated by the seven deadly sins.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a bit like that, a bit creepy,香蕉视频直播 the man said in his police interview last year.
Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges involving four men for events that date from 2001 to 2013. The charges include sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
He could go to prison if convicted, though Spacey told a German magazine that he expects he香蕉视频直播檒l be offered work 香蕉视频直播渢he moment I am cleared of these charges.香蕉视频直播
The case expected to last four weeks continues Tuesday before a jury of nine men and three women in Southwark Crown Court.
Once one of the biggest actors of his generation, Spacey won an Academy Award for supporting actor in 香蕉视频直播淭he Usual Suspects香蕉视频直播 in 1995 and best actor Oscar for the 1999 movie 香蕉视频直播淎merican Beauty.香蕉视频直播 He香蕉视频直播檚 also won awards for the stage and small screen.
His career dried up when sexual misconduct allegations against him arose as the #MeToo movement exploded. He was written off the Netflix political thriller 香蕉视频直播淗ouse of Cards,香蕉视频直播 and cut from the completed film 香蕉视频直播淎ll the Money in the World.香蕉视频直播
The actor, who has homes in the U.S. and London, is free on bail. He served as artistic director at the Old Vic from 2003 until 2015.
The man said he reacted with horror when Spacey made first contact by rubbing his neck early in their work relationship in the early 2000s.
香蕉视频直播淭he first time that he touched me was just a massive shock,香蕉视频直播 he testified. 香蕉视频直播淚 just don香蕉视频直播檛 like people香蕉视频直播檚 hands on me.香蕉视频直播
When he complained to a woman he worked for, she laughed it off and she said, 香蕉视频直播淵ou can cope, you can handle it. We all know what he香蕉视频直播檚 like,香蕉视频直播 he said.
The man said he decided he 香蕉视频直播渄idn香蕉视频直播檛 want to upset the apple cart香蕉视频直播 and got on with his job.
But as Spacey escalated to grabbing the man in the crotch and taking the man香蕉视频直播檚 hand and using it to rub his own privates over the pants, he began to dread when Spacey would return to London.
Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs on cross-examination suggested that the man, who was disguised in court behind a curtain, was confused by the touching and even got a thrill from it.
香蕉视频直播淣othing happened between us. He was assaulting me,香蕉视频直播 the man said. 香蕉视频直播淚 was doing my job and he was the one touching me.香蕉视频直播澫憬妒悠抵辈
Gibbs confronted the man with a photo he posted six years ago on social media of him and Spacey in which his arm appears to be around Spacey香蕉视频直播檚 back.
香蕉视频直播淒id it make you feel sick to stand there side by side?香蕉视频直播 Gibbs asked.
The man said he used the image to promote his business.
香蕉视频直播淎nyone who does social media would have killed for a picture like that,香蕉视频直播 the man said.
He said the final straw for working with Spacey came on a day he was driving him to a celebrity-studded summer gala in 2004 or 2005 when the star violently gripped his crotch and he nearly ran off the road.
香蕉视频直播淗e grabbed me really hard and it really hurt,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 pushed him against the door and said, 香蕉视频直播楧on香蕉视频直播檛 do that again or I will knock you out.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 such a turn on to me,香蕉视频直播 he said Spacey replied. 香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e such a man.香蕉视频直播
Gibbs, however, said that Spacey only attended that party once 香蕉视频直播 three or four years earlier than the witness claimed.
The defense lawyer also showed jurors a snapshot the man had sent Spacey of himself as thanks for supporting him on a hike for charity in the Rocky Mountains of North America. The man had also kept a warm letter Spacey had written him after donating 5,000-pound ($6,350) for the trek.
The man said he told a few people in his life about his experience with Spacey, fearing it could affect his career. He said he decided to come forward last year, after Spacey had been charged with assaulting the three other alleged victims in the case.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 a big part of it,香蕉视频直播 the man said. 香蕉视频直播淪trength in numbers, isn香蕉视频直播檛 it?香蕉视频直播
香蕉视频直播淥r is it that in 2022, you saw a bandwagon coming past and you decided to hop on board?香蕉视频直播 Gibbs asked.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 not true at all,香蕉视频直播 the man said.
Two decades later, the man said he has never overcome the shame he felt and cannot bring himself to view Spacey香蕉视频直播檚 films or TV shows.
香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 stand watching the man. It makes me feel sick,香蕉视频直播 the man said.
Brian Melley, The Associated Press