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It Looks Like Kevin Spacey’s Career Might Be Over

The Weinstein scandal was only the tip of the iceberg in what seems to be the beginning of a series of shocking revelations about sexual harassment in show business (and beyond).

Following allegations of sexual misconducts involving the famous Hollywood producer, director James Toback, Ben Affleck, Nickelodeon animator Chris Savino, Honest Trailers’ creator Andy Signore, and more recently Brett Ratner, the focus has now shifted toward award-winning actor Kevin Spacey, who is accused of making advances on a child actor during his career debut.

Affected by the recent disclosure, Netflix has announced on Monday it will put an end to its veteran political series House of Cards after season 6, whose production started just a few weeks ago in Baltimore. Although, according to a Hollywood Reporter source, the decision had been made months before the news came out, the streaming service and the show’s production company Media Rights Capital have later resolved to pause the current filming of the drama’s new episodes “until further notice” to give time “to review the current situation and address concerns” of the cast and crew.

Rapp was a child actor during the ’80s who became a star in the Broadway production of Rent in the ’90s – Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP

And this could be only the first in many repercussions generated by the recent claim from Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, who stated in an interview with BuzzFeed published on Monday October 30 that back in 1986, when both of them performed on Broadway shows, Spacey invited Rapp to a party over at his apartment and, as the evening came to an end, picked Rapp up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him. Spacey was 26 years old at the time of the event, and Rapp only 14.

Following the revelatory article, Kevin Spacey took to Twitter to answer the allegations in a written statement, not refuting what happened, but instead apologizing for what could have been “inappropriate drunken behavior,” and concluding by officially coming out as gay.

Twitter

What quickly escalated into a controversial attempt to respond to troubling charges (actor Zachary Quinto, among others, described Spacey’s announcement as a “calculated manipulation to deflect attention from the very serious accusation”) turned out to be the starting point of numerous damaging consequences on Spacey’s career.

After Netflix’s announcements, reports came that the platform was already considering creating a spin-off of House of Cards without its leading actor. According to Variety, the related project could focus on Doug Stamper’s (Michael Kelly) character, who’s been more central to the storyline throughout latest episodes. In spite of the fact that executive producers are usually involved in spin-offs, it’s unlikely that Spacey, who officiates as EP on HoC, will be part of the project.

Back in London, where Spacey was creative director at the Old Vic Theatre in Waterloo for 11 years, from 2004 to 2015, professionals from the UK theatre industry expressed their outrage in a released statement declaring that “there is no place for sexual harassment or abuse of power in our industry.” The Old Vic Theatre added that it was “deeply dismayed” by the news and revealed it has opened a confidential communication service for those who have complaints they feel they were unable to raise.

Kevin Spacey’s Masterclass about acting was the first course offered by the educational provider in 2016 / Masterclass

The actor, who collaborated with the educational service Masterclass in 2016 (which for $90 each, offers classes focusing on various professions taught by successful and renowned personalities like Shonda Rhimes, Aaron Sorkin, and Martin Scorsese) for its very first series of 29 lessons about acting, also saw his online course removed from the provider’s website, although it remains accessible to the members who already purchased it. “In light of recent events, Masterclass has closed enrollment in Kevin Spacey’s online class,” declared a spokewoman for the service to The Hollywood Reporter.

What truly feels like the beginning of the end for Spacey, who hosted this year’s Tony Awards ceremony, is without surprise tarnishing past and future trophies celebrations as well. The International Academy of Television Arts and Science recently revoked the actor’s 2017 International Emmy Founders Award (whose past recipients include Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and Shonda Rhimes) he was scheduled to be presented with at the upcoming 45th annual International Emmys in New York on November 20.

Spacey’s new movie All the Money in the World, in which he portrays oil tycoon J. Paul Getty under an impressive amount of makeup, however, is still set to be released on December 22 and close the AFI (American Film Institute) festival on November 16. Having said that, on its way to make him a serious contender this awards season, it’s probable that his performance, in addition to any other to come, will rather be ignored by the profession.