Kevin Spacey trial: Anthony Rapp admits reason he gave for making allegations was ‘not true’

In a bombastic interview with BuzzFeed News in October 2017, Rapp claimed Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance on him when he was 14. Per NBC News, Rapp’s attorneys argued last week that Rapp was inspired to disclose his allegations to BuzzFeed News reporters after reading an article in which actress Lupita Nyong’o brought a sexual harassment lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein, alleging he have “identified” with their experience. (Weinstein has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.)

However, on Tuesday, Spacey’s attorneys presented screenshots between Rapp and BuzzFeed News reporter Adam B. Vary that appeared to show the actor contacted the journalist via text message on Oct. 11, 2017, writing, “I would like to speak out about someone else who is very powerful in the industry.”

They noted how Nyong’o’s New York Times essay on Weinstein was published eight days later, on October 19, 2017. Vary’s article was published on October 29, 2017.

During cross-examination Tuesday, Rapp admitted to one of Spacey’s attorneys, Jennifer Keller, that his earlier claim – that Nyong’o inspired him to share his allegations against Spacey – was “not true.”

In the 2017 BuzzFeed News article, the ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ star claimed Spacey became friends with him in the late ’80s when they were both performing on Broadway. Rapp, who was 14 at the time, claimed Spacey, then 26, invited him to his apartment and climbed onto him before Rapp said he could push him off and leave. Spacey, 63, has denied the allegation.

Early in the trial, Rapp’s attorneys argued that Spacey — who Rapp said was drunk and “unsteady on his feet” — was lying on top of Rapp at the time of the alleged incident to “satisfy his own sexual desires,” according to NBC News.

However, during cross-examination, which NBC News called “lengthy and aggressive,” Keller accused Rapp of being jealous of Spacey’s success, arguing that Rapp believed Spacey was a “fraud” for not coming out as a gay man, which the latter later became public during his statement following the publication of the BuzzFeed News article.

According to NBC News, Keller asked Rapp, “Do you really expect us to believe you weren’t jealous of someone who won [awards] You wanted to be that person, didn’t you?” to which the ‘Rent’ star replied, “No ma’am. I wanted to be an actor.”

Keller also claimed on the first day of the trial that Rapp “made up a story” about Spacey “to evoke sympathy, to garner attention, and to raise his profile.”

Also during cross-examination, Keller noted a discrepancy between John Barrowman’s testimony and Rapp’s version of events — regarding when and how often he visited Spacey’s apartment. Rapp said on the witness stand, “I’m not denying his [Barrowman] Story. I just don’t remember.” (Barrowman was reportedly staying with Rapp and his mother in New York at the time.)

Meanwhile, during Rapp’s testimony Tuesday, he reflected on his efforts to witness Spacey’s acting continue to thrive in the years following their alleged encounter. “As his name and notoriety grew, it became increasingly difficult to escape,” Rapp told the court, according to the New York Times.

According to TMZ, there were more than 20 other accusers in addition to Rapp who have made allegations of sexual misconduct against Rapp.

Spacey has denied all allegations against him, including several from his time as Artistic Director at London’s Old Vic Theater from 2004 to 2015.

In late May, TMZ reported that the House of Cards star was charged in the UK with four counts of sexual assault involving three different men between 2005 and 2013. The charges came after a police investigation, according to prosecutors. It’s not clear if any stem from the Old Vic allegations.

Spacey appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June and, according to E! News. The following month, he pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault charges at the time, according to NPR.