Kevin Spacey Participates in Vardavar: 'Today We Got Soaking Wet,' Declines to Answer Questions About Trials

Today, the 21st Golden Apricot International Film Festival opened in Yerevan, Armenia, at the sports concert complex named after Karen Demirchyan. This festival is a prestigious event in the world of cinema, drawing filmmakers and enthusiasts from around the globe to celebrate the art of storytelling through film.

This year, the festival has a particularly notable guest: two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey. Despite his impressive professional achievements, Spacey's career has been marred by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. He has received the Parajanov Taller award at this year's festival.

Ani Khachatryan from The Armenian Report caught up with Spacey as he arrived to the festival  in Yerevan today. In their brief exchange, Spacey expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and shared his enthusiasm for experiencing Armenian culture firsthand. He mentioned how he and his team got soaking wet during their day in Yerevan, while participating in the Vardavar festival, a traditional Armenian event where people splash water on each other. Spacey emphasized the importance of film festivals like Golden Apricot in bringing people together, learning from each other, and supporting the art of cinema. Spacey did not answer the question about the scandal surrounding his participation in the film festival.

Despite the warm welcome in Armenia, Spacey's past continues to cast a long shadow. His career has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual misconduct. In April 2018, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office began investigating an allegation that Spacey had sexually assaulted an adult male in 1992. By July 2018, Scotland Yard revealed three more allegations, bringing the total number of investigations in the UK to six.

Further allegations surfaced, including a lawsuit filed in September 2018 claiming that Spacey sexually assaulted an unnamed masseur in October 2016. In December 2018, he was charged with felony sexual assault against journalist Heather Unruh's 18-year-old son. Although Spacey pleaded not guilty, the case was eventually dropped due to issues with the evidence.

In September 2020, actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexual assault and emotional distress stemming from an incident in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Spacey denied the allegations, and in October 2022, a jury found him not liable for the charges.

The allegations had significant repercussions for Spacey's career. Production of the final season of "House of Cards" was suspended, and Spacey was removed from the show. His scenes in the film "All the Money in the World" were reshot with Christopher Plummer replacing him. Netflix severed all ties with Spacey, canceling his biographical film about Gore Vidal.

Spacey's public image suffered greatly, and several professional relationships ended, including those with his publicist and talent agency. The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences also withdrew its decision to honor him with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award.

In an emotional interview on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" aired on June 11, 2024, Spacey opened up about his tumultuous life following the allegations. He described how his acting career, which was at its peak in 2017 with Ridley Scott's "All the Money in the World," came to an abrupt halt after Anthony Rapp's accusations.

Spacey shared that the numerous legal battles have left him millions in debt. He revealed through tears that he had to sell his Baltimore home due to foreclosure because he could not keep up with the mounting legal bills. Spacey admitted to "being too handsy" and "touching someone sexually" without their consent but maintained his innocence regarding the more severe allegations.

The financial strain has been immense, with Spacey stating he has come close to bankruptcy multiple times. Despite being found not liable in several high-profile cases, including the one involving Anthony Rapp, the legal costs have been overwhelming. Spacey mentioned that he still owes many millions in legal fees and currently has no money left.

Despite the controversy, Spacey continues to maintain his innocence and has made attempts to return to the public eye. He has expressed regret over the way he came out as gay in response to Rapp's allegations, acknowledging that it was not his intention to deflect from the accusations.

As Spacey prepares to be honored at GAIFF 2024, his legacy remains a complex blend of exceptional talent and deeply troubling allegations. While his contributions to film and theater are undeniable, the shadow of his legal battles continues to loom over his career.

The Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival is scheduled to be held from July 7 to July 14 in Yerevan, Armenia. The Armenian Report will be covering the festival on our YouTube Channel. Please subscribe to our channel for all video reports.