Kevin Spacey sobs as he’s CLEARED of sexually assaulting four men
KEVIN Spacey today sobbed with relief as he was cleared of sexually assaulting four men.
The Oscar-winning star, 63, was branded a “sexual bully” for allegedly attacking the men in charges dating back 22 years.
The American Beauty star, whose birthday is today, previously broke down, claiming: “I lost everything”.
After 12 hours and 26 minutes, the jury panel acquitted Spacey of seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
He had denied all charges – saying the allegations against him were “madness” and a “stab in the back”.
During a blockbuster trial, stars such as Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish were called to give evidence.
Jurors were told Spacey was “turned on” by his victims getting angry at him and believed they would not come forward due to his fame.
He “abused the power and influence that his reputation and fame afforded him” to target the four men, it was claimed.
The court was told the four men were aged in their 20s or 30s when they “attracted the attention” of the star.
One, who first worked with Spacey at an event at The Haymarket Theatre, claimed the actor grabbed his genitals with such force that it was “painful”.
He also alleged the star made a remark about him being black and asked him “have we f***ed?” and if he had a “big c**k”.
Another man claimed “slippery” Spacey grabbed his privates as they made their way to Elton John‘s White Tie and Tiara Ball.
He claimed it was “so hard I almost came off the road”.
Spacey was also accused of grabbing another man‘s crotch “like a cobra” and subjecting him to a “machine gun” of “vile comments”.
While another alleged victim told the court he woke up to find Spacey performing a sex act on him.
But the actor broke down as he was called to give evidence and claimed his world “exploded” in 2017 when allegations about him first emerged on the internet.
He also insisted he was just a “big flirt” and respected someone when they told him no.
Spacey was seen dabbing his eyes with a tissue as he added: “There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days.”
He pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, in January.
The star also denied four charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
Spacey was stripped of an International Emmy Award in the wake of the claims.
His central character in acclaimed Netflix series House of Cards was also killed off after he was axed from the show.