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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World

Kevin Spacey sued by actor Anthony Rapp and another man over alleged 1980s attacks

Actor Anthony Rapp attends the "Star Trek: Discovery" season two premiere in New York on Jan. 17, 2019, left, and actor Kevin Spacey is seen during his arraignment on a charge of indecent assault and battery in Nantucket (Picture: AP)

Kevin Spacey has been sued by the actor Anthony Rapp and another man, alleging he sexually assaulted them as 14-year-olds in the 1980s.

Rapp, best known for his work on TV series Star Trek: Discovery, first made allegations against Spacey in October 2017.

This led to Spacey's downfall and banishment from Hollywood.

In a lawsuit filed in New York this week, Rapp says Spacey invited him to a party at his Manhattan apartment in 1986.

While there, Rapp alleged, he was the victim of an "unwanted sexual advance" when Spacey grabbed his buttocks.

Kevin Spacey at Nantucket District Court (file photo) (REUTERS)

He managed to escape to the bathroom, according to the lawsuit, and later left the apartment.

The second accuser is anonymous and identified only as CD in the lawsuit. He alleged he was 12 when he first met two-time Oscar-winner Spacey, who was teaching an acting class in 1981.

Their paths crossed again when the accuser was 14, the lawsuit states, and Spacey invited him back to his apartment.

Anthony Rapp has accused Spacey of a sexual advance in 1986 (AFP/Getty Images)

Spacey then allegedly sexually assaulted the boy, according to the legal papers. The pair engaged in sex acts on multiple occasions, it is alleged, and during their final encounter Spacey ignored the boy's "verbal and physical resistance".

Both the accusers are suing Spacey, 61, for unspecified damages, claiming the alleged attacks have caused psychological damage.

After Rapp first made his allegations, Spacey said he did not remember the incident but if it did occur "I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour".

Spacey, once of the most decorated stars in Hollywood, has been largely shunned from the industry since Rapp's allegations sparked a wave of similar accusations in both the US and UK.

Spacey is yet to respond to the lawsuit.

He has faced legal action in Los Angeles and Nantucket, Massachusetts, but is yet to be found liable in any case. Spacey is also being investigated by Scotland Yard.

Peter J Saghir, the lawyer representing both Rapp and the second accuser, said in a statement to the PA news agency: "This lawsuit sends a strong message that no matter how wealthy, powerful or famous you may be you are not above the law.

"Our clients are looking forward to their day in court and to obtaining justice for a crime that never should have happened."

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