Twitter reacted with fury at the notion that Kevin Spacey would try to deflect an allegation of sexual misconduct with
After years of refusing to address rumours about his sexuality, Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey said on Sunday he has chosen to live his life as a gay man.
This after fellow actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making sexual advances at him in 1986.
In a short statement, which Spacey shared on Twitter, the 58-year-old actor apologised to Rapp and also addressed years of rumours about his sexuality.
Spacey said he was horrified to hear Rapp's story of the encounter, which he said he did not remember because it occurred more than 30 years ago. He also said he owed Rapp a "sincere apology" for what he said would have been "deeply inappropriate drunken behavior."
Rapp's story "has encouraged me to address other things in my life," Spacey wrote. "I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I now choose to live life as a gay man."
"I want to deal with this honestly and openly," he said, "and that starts with me examining my own behavior."
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
Rapp, who went on to star in the Broadway musical "Rent," was 14 at the time and starting his career on Broadway.
But Spacey's apology was not taken to heart on social media, as Twitter accused him of deflecting a sexual harassment claim by coming out as a gay man. Here are some of the comments:
Kevin Spacey molested a child, then comes out as gay when exposed https://t.co/l1CX1WvN5H
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) October 30, 2017
My gay son & his friends fight stereotypes constantly - shame on you Kevin Spacey for linking assaulting a minor with coming out as gay.
— Sherri (@SociallySherri) October 30, 2017
Very brave of Kevin Spacey to come out as a forgetful predator.
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) October 30, 2017
If Kevin Spacey wanted millions of political folks to shield him from sexual assault claims, he should have come out as a Trump supporter.
— Charles Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) October 30, 2017
Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017
Nope to Kevin Spacey's statement. Nope. There's no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017
Kevin Spacey thought he could use his apology letter to come out as gay, but his convenient complicity made him come out...as a Paedophile. pic.twitter.com/lRjDfWDaab
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) October 30, 2017