Kevin Spacey made an emotional return to the Cannes Film Festival for the first time in nearly a decade, where he spoke out against “blacklist” culture.
The actor, 65, was accused of sexual assault or inappropriate behaviour by more than 30 men in 2017, with his previously acclaimed stage and screen career stalling as a result.
In 2022, he was found not liable in a civil lawsuit in New York and was cleared of nine charges of sexual assault in 2023 in a criminal case in London.
Years later, he returned to Cannes for the first time since 2016 where on Tuesday he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Better World Fund at a low-key event at the festival.
During his acceptance speech, as reported by Variety, Spacey spoke out against what he called a “blacklist” culture as he thanked Manuel Collas de la Roche, the founder of the fund that supports cinema.
‘I want to thank Manuel, founder of the Better World Fund. What a great name,” he began. “That an organisation focused on doing good around the world is called a Better World. But they aren’t just doing good in name alone. And tonight demonstrates that they are even willing to take risks in doing better.
“Since being here tonight is very personal to me, I would like to congratulate Manuel for the decision to invite me here tonight to accept this award.”
He said he was surprised that inviting him would be considered “brave” as he had been “exonerated” of every crime he had been accused.
“I mean, who would have ever thought that honouring someone who has been exonerated in every single courtroom he’s ever walked into would be thought of as a brave idea?” he continued.
He then went on to compare himself to screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, a “blacklisted” star who was supported by the filmstar Kirk Doughlas after it emerged that he had communist ties.
“But here we are. I’ve been thinking about someone else who did what he could to make this a better world, and that was someone you saw earlier on the screen tonight, Kirk Douglas, a great American film star.
“Now, it was a long, long time ago, so we have to try to remember the pushback that he received after he made the brave decision to stand up for a fellow colleague, the two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted.
“From 1947 until 1960, he was blacklisted. Blacklisted, we know what that means, right?
“It means that he could not find work as a writer in Hollywood for 13 years. But even after he was warned that if he tried to hire Trumbo as the credited screenwriter for the film, Sparticus, in 1960, he would be called a commie-lover, and his career and professional status would be cancelled.”
He then spoke movingly about a “dark period” when Hollywood professionals were “damaged or destroyed” by false allegations.
“And of course, people know about Dalton Trumbull and the Hollywood 10, but I suspect very few of you know or have ever heard of the 475 other industry professionals whose lives were damaged or destroyed by false allegations, and they, too, were unable to find work in Hollywood during that very lengthy dark period.
“And today, we find ourselves once again at the intersection of uncertainty and fear in the film business and beyond.”
He concluded his lengthy address by quoting his “friend” Elton John, declaring: “I’m still standing”.
Spacey may still have some hurdles to overcome, with a statement from the event organisers distancing themselves from him, telling The Telegraph that he had “no affiliation whatsoever to the festival”.
A statement added: “The Festival de Cannes had no involvement in, and was not informed of, either the invitation extended to Mr Spacey or the award presented during this private event.”
