Judge Short‑Circuits Part of Kevin Spacey’s Sexual‑Misconduct Case
In a court that felt more like a courtroom drama than a room of lawyers, Judge Lewis Kaplan cut the emotional‑distress claim from the lawsuit that’s been buzzing around the Hollywood grape‑vine.
The Big Bulwark: Battery Still Standing
- Caplan didn’t buy the emotional‑distress ticket – they were more skeptical than a detective at a karaoke bar.
- He left the battery allegations in the mix – essentially saying “Let’s keep the fight going.”
Spacey Says He’s 100% Clear
In a laid‑back testimony, the “House of Cards” star tried to play the “I’m innocent” card, but his past claims are more like an old sitcom episode that nobody wants to rewatch.
“They’re not true. Everything in that house is something I kept private.” —Kevin Spacey
Rapp’s Counter‑Pitch
Anthony Rapp, now 50, was asked whether he was lying. He shot back with the one‑liner that keeps celebrities in a loop: “I haven’t lied. It wasn’t okay.”
Why Some Say “Attention” and “Sympathy”
Jennifer Keller, Spacey’s legal counsel, painted a picture of a man “seeking applause” to compensate for a flailing acting career. She suggested that the accusations were a bid for visibility rather than a reality check.
“One rule of the MeToo movement is to believe the victim.” she emphasized, prompting a quick swerve from the courtroom crowd.
Allegations Break Down
- The incident allegedly happened at a Manhattan party in 1986.
- Spacey supposedly lifted Rapp in a way that “grazed” his buttocks; the two were supposedly on a brief, two‑minute shuffle.
- Rapp insisted there was no flirting, no undressing, and no explicit touch—just a brief physical bump.
Spacey’s History
Spacey has been in hot water before: He’s pleaded not guilty to UK assault charges, had Massachusetts charges dropped, and once offered a “sincere apology” for a drunken incident on a midnight Star Trek road trip.
Whether that apology carries weight in this court remains to be seen.
In the end, the judge’s decision leaves us with a half‑finished drama: The battery case will go on, while the emotional‑distress curtain gets closed.
