Kevin Spacey holds nothing back in fiery Cannes speech while accepting award

“I’ve been thinking of someone else you saw earlier on the screen tonight, Kirk Douglas, great American film star. It was a long, long time ago, but we have to think about the pushback that he received after he made the brave decision to stand up for fellow colleague, 2x Oscar winning screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted from 1947-1960. He was blacklisted. Blacklisted, we know what that mean? He couldn’t find work in Hollywood for 13 years. But even after he was warned if he tried to hire Trumbo as the credited screenwriter for Spartacus in 1960, he’d be called a Commie lover, and his career and professional status would be canceled, Kirk Douglas took the risk, and would later say, and I won’t do my Kirk Douglas impression, but he said this, ‘It’s easier for us actors to play the heroes on screen. We get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice. But in real life, the choices are not always so clear. There are times when one has to stand up for principal.'”

“I’ve learned a lot from history — it often repeats itself,” said The House of Cards thespian, “The Blacklist was a terrible time in our history [we must remember] so that it never happens again.

“Kirk Douglas spoke those words in 2014 when he was 98 years old. Of course, people know about Dalton Trumbo and the Hollywood 10, but I suspect very few of you know or ever heard of the 475 other industry professionals whose lives were destroyed by false allegations during that lengthy dark period. And today we find ourselves once again at the intersection of uncertainty and fear in the film business and beyond.”

"He the proceeded to grope a passing 17 year old male guest while yelling "just try and stop me!" at the top of his voice. The Carlton Hotel has refused to comment."

He’s definitely not back

The Blacklist analogy is bullshit. Those people were persecuted for their political beliefs, not for abusing power for sexual gratification.

He's equating a government persecution to being a sex pest?

If I were him, I wouldn’t bring rumored rapist Kirk Douglas into a speech about my victim hood.

I love the term sex pest. It makes me think of Kevin Soacey’s head on a big horsefly that keeps buzzing around some twunk.

He’s a disgusting piece of shit. No sympathy.

"Kevin Soacey" is a food Freudian type.

"Kevin Soacey" is a food Freudian typo.

"Kevin Soacey" is a good Freudian typo.

The same narcissism that he displayed in his grooming is in full display here, in comparing his pervy abuse to standing up to government persecution.

I’m surprised he didn’t utter “IT IS FINISHED” and loll his head to the side.

[quote] “I’ve been thinking of someone else you saw earlier on the screen tonight, Kirk Douglas, great American film star. It was a long, long time ago, but we have to think about the pushback that he received after he made the brave decision to stand up for fellow colleague, 2x Oscar winning screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted from 1947-1960. He was blacklisted. Blacklisted, we know what that mean? He couldn’t find work in Hollywood for 13 years. But even after he was warned if he tried to hire Trumbo as the credited screenwriter for Spartacus in 1960, he’d be called a Commie lover, and his career and professional status would be canceled, Kirk Douglas took the risk, and would later say, and I won’t do my Kirk Douglas impression, but he said this, ‘It’s easier for us actors to play the heroes on screen. We get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice. But in real life, the choices are not always so clear. There are times when one has to stand up for principal.'”

Maybe this would be more compelling if he weren't comparing himself to a famous actor whose family has admitted he once raped a teenage actress.

An alleged sex offender comparing himself to Kirk Douglas is either devoid of self-awareness or overdosing on his own narcissism.

She's still a hideous grabby mess.

The Blacklist wasn’t government persecution. It was the film industry itself that maintained it. They acted out of fear of the media, public opinion and the threat of government action, but it was also motivated by anti-communist animus within the industry.

Muriel, please do something for dyslexic Dataloungers!

Provide an edit function.

You dare to rouse Muriel before noon?

Death wish?

I'm assuming they paid for his ass to get there considering he's broke and homeless.

Oh, Kevin honey, it doesn't matter how many "awards" you receive or how many vindicated-themed speeches you give, the tea has spilled, and it will remain spilled no matter how much effort is put into cleaning your rep up. Everyone is side-eying you now and that will continue. How much did you pay someone to arrange this PR stunt?

[quote]An alleged sex offender comparing himself to Kirk Douglas is either devoid of self-awareness or overdosing on his own narcissism.

Those are not mutually exclusive diagnoses.

[quote] Kevin Spacey holds nothing back

Not even his tiny nubdick

His accusers have put him through a lot. It’s good that people acknowledge his vindication.

His body count is high, but I'm not talking about his sex life. His own brother called him a complete psychopath. This man is actually very scary, and I hope he is never again put in a position of power over someone. He can not be trusted.

An acquittal is not exonerated. It just means there wasn't enough proof to convict him. It doesn't mean he wasn't guilty. It's not proof of innocence. It just means that the prosecution could not convince the jury that he was guilty of those charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Delusional scum

I think if he had shut up and laid low for a bit he could have gone back to work on the stage. Then maybe some indie film work would have followed. Every time he opens his mouth and whines he buries his career deeper and deeper.

[quote] —Three accusers dead...

Huh?

Please stop making things up.

Kevin Spacey curse: [quote]—Three accusers dead...

Is Anthony Rapp next?

His not getting work is not about legal or criminal liability. Another red herring.

There are far too many allegations against him for anyone to credit that he’s actually innocent.

I don’t appreciate his cynical efforts to paint himself as a victim.

He keeps banging on about the acquittal on one case while ignoring the dozens of others that were outside the statute of limitations and couldn’t be tried.

There’s SO MUCH testimony against him, going back decades. There’s also the fact that he was guilty enough of sex crimes on the set of House of Cards that Netflix was able to exact millions of dollars of fines out of him and he conveniently forgets to bring that up whenever he talks about being acquitted.

If the glove doesn't fit, you MUST acquit!

Thank you, R13.

The man is a creep who preyed on younger, vulnerable men.

Pity….

Huh, within the first sentence, over and done. Kirk Douglas, seriously? Way to sound innocent.

Even if some like-minded director wanted to cast him, would he be insurable given the House of Cards fiasco?

In NYC in the 90's he was famous for pouncing on cater waiters at functions he would attend...it was no secret...

I wonder if he bumped into any fellow actors. I know this isn't an official Cannes event, but they could be staying in the same hotel. I'm curious how his (former) peers regard him now.

R24, people are presumed innocent until a jury of their peers find them guilty. Being acquitted does not mean they are guilty, but "there wasn't enough proof to convict him." That is the exact opposite of how justice works. An accusation does not mean you are guilty. Both sides had the opportunity to present their sides of the story, and the jury found in favor of the defendant.

But perhaps if all the people posting here with personal knowledge of the events in question had spoken up in court, he would have been convicted, except (checks notes) no one posting here has first hand knowledge of the events.

[quote]An accusation does not mean you are guilty

Dozens of accusations all detailing the same behaviour, on the other hand...

Usually, I'd agree with you. But in this case I take the word of a handful of people like Guy Pearce over Spacey's any day.

An unrepentant asshole.

you are supposed to get up there, thank everyone for the opportunity and take your ass home.

Few things worse than an uggo sex pest.

Spacey and M’Onique need to costar in a new black comedy about Kevin Sessums

“I NEED TO GET FUCKED RIGHT NOW”

I love his work but he really does carry himself as the kind of person who would slowly torture you in a dungeon while delivering a monologue.

Wow. Kinda tone deaf. And let’s not forget, Kev, you crawled out of the closet like a weasel thinking it would somehow legitimize the complaints made against you. So for that alone, go fuck yourself, and I hope you never work a major production again.

[Quote] The Blacklist wasn’t government persecution.

Yes it was. It started with either having been a member of the communist party, or, most often, refusing to assist Congress or the Feds with the witch hunt. It all began with government intimidation.

[Quote] An accusation does not mean you are guilty

I guess Trump’s in the clear too then!

R46 here - I don’t mean legitimize the complaints made, I mean legitimize the behavior

"I love you Dianne...."

I wonder if he’s been fisted?

R36 A good friend of mine who is a chef in the NY restaurant business told me about his blatant handsy habits and sexual harassment proclivities with the male staff.

There are surely and rightly different standards between taking away someone's freedom versus their ability to engage in elite, polite society or to be entrusted with tens of millions of investors' money with which to make a film.

He is a true narcissist if there ever was one.

[quote]Kirk Douglas did not produce “Spartacus.” Edward Lewis received sole producing credit on the film. Douglas was an executive producer. Edward Lewis brought the project to Dalton Trumbo. Howard Fast had been engaged to write the script, but when that did not work out, Lewis offered the project to Dalton Trumbo. Said Lewis: “I gave Trumbo the book with a disclaimer: He might not want to work on it because the author, Howard Fast, had cooperated with the House Un-American Affairs Committee, and named names. Dalton's response was, 'If I turned the assignment down because I didn't like his politics, I'd be guilty of the same blacklisting I'm fighting. It's a short novel. I'm a fast reader.' When the screenplay was finished, Dalton asked me to 'front' for him. My name was on the script as sole author when it was submitted to Universal. I went to London as writer/producer, met with Olivier, Laughton, Ustinov, and secured their commitment to star. When financing and distribution were locked, I insisted that my name be removed from the screenplay, an action that set in motion a sequence of events that led to Dalton Trumbo getting screen credit. Trumbo himself orchestrated much of what occurred. There were many people who helped break the blacklist. I was one of them.”

And "there are times when one has to stand up for principal." Oh, dear.

This is a bogus gala, a bogus award, hosted by a sleazy organisation. It's a nothing burger.

I’d actually argue it’s more of a nothing dog

He can’t be that broke. He looks like he’s had some Kenny Rogers plastic surgery and no, he’s not back, not in the states anyways. He’s gonna keep doing low budget European movies that nobody will see. Nobody in Hollywood wants him back. He was too much of an arrogant asshole. And what the hell was he getting award for? Best gross piece of shit?

[quote] I love his work but he really does carry himself as the kind of person who would slowly torture you in a dungeon while delivering a monologue.

HA!

Just like the creepy character played by Stellan Skarsgard in "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" who tortured Daniel Craig in his sex dungeon.

If they are smart. They only have female weight staff at the award ceremony.

r60: I should "O, dear" you, but I kinda love what you did.

FAT female wait-staff would be perfect at a Spacey ceremony.

His use of "but here we are" makes me want to punch him. I can just imagine the smug "dry humor" expression on his face as he said that.

Anyone who's seen last year's two-part documentary on him knows there's no question he was a serial sexual assaulter and groper. I myself originally gave him the benefit of the doubt, but there are just too many people saying the same thing. (I still am not fully buying Anthony Rapp's story, though.) He's a screwed-up person who should stay gone.

Honestly, I think he's a bad actor. I've never been convinced by any of his performances. And now we can add on delusional ideas about persecution.

For those who might have forgotten this story: He was completely edited out of the movie All the Money in the World after filming his scenes; the studio hired Christopher Plummer to replace him; then re-filmed the scenes.

It must have been pretty extreme for the studio to go to that effort.

Plummer was then rewarded with an Oscar nomination.

Imagine how pissed Spacey must have been! (good!).

[quote]I think if he had shut up and laid low for a bit he could have gone back to work on the stage.

Would probably have been too risky for all concerned. Protests outside the theatre, publicity for all the wrong reasons, people interrupting the performance.

Also it's a risk to suggest equivalence between sexual harassment and communism. For all its eventual corruption, the latter was an idealistic political movement with intellectual impetus. Intelligent people thought the idea at its best to be worth advocating. There is however no Karl Marx of predatory gay behaviour worthy of constant historical assessment. But perhaps Spacey will further explain his equivalence, maybe in a searching interview, as he continues his attempt at plaintive comeback.

If you look at this organization’s website, they have a few galas per year and this Cannes one was in honor of Indian director Mira Nair. Spacey’s name doesn’t appear anywhere on the program. It looks like they give out three awards and it lists past winners like Kevin Costner and David Lynch so maybe it’s a secret until that night

[quote]”The entire trip — and his receiving of the award — has been orchestrated by the producers of conspiracy thriller “The Awakening” in which he stars and is being sold at the festival… producer Matt Hookings of Camelot Films, [says] that bringing him to Cannes is all part of his company’s “guerrilla marketing” to bring attention to the film… So if anyone speaks to him, he could say he’s in Cannes and receiving an award, but he’s also here with ‘The Awakening,’ so the film gets plugged,” said Hookings, who added that says Spacey will be meeting with buyers.”

[quote]“While flying and accommodating Spacey and his small team is an expensive outlay for a small indie production company, landing him the award from the Better World Fund — which has given similar honors to the likes of Kevin Costner and Sharon Stone over the last few years — proved to be relatively easy.”

(Hit post too soon) Anyway, looks like the producer is an idiot with a big mouth.

He has a "small" team? Deluded much? Are they interns (shudder) or does he actually pay salaries? If so, where does his money come from? Does he have residuals coming in? His films weren't exactly blockbusters.

[quote]Are they interns (shudder) or does he actually pay salaries?

He pays them in gropes R68 and if they're lucky - rapes.

Spacey was very lucky with his movie awards.

2 Oscars from 2 nominations, but 0 wins from 6 Emmy nominations - he lost 5 years in a row to Jeff Daniels, Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Rami Malek and Sterling K Brown.

This is the producer. I think we can all guess why Spacey agreed to do this shitty little film

“ I don’t appreciate his cynical efforts to paint himself as a victim.”

Oh really? Well I don’t appreciate your leaving your big ol’ box of June Allyson bladder pants on MY nightstand for all the maids and bellboys to see!

Has anyone commented on the headline in R66's article? Spacey to make a surprise appearance?

[quote] —Three accusers dead... Huh? Please stop making things up.

Here's a link for the moron R27 to feast her eyes on. There's no need to make up anything about Kevin Spacey of all people. That man is truly stranger than any fiction one could come up with.

Another one.

Europe can keep his creepy ass.

R74 wtf? Lawd. He friends with the Clintons or something?

I love how he still feels so sorry for himself. And if he’s so broke, how do he get the money to look like Donny Osmond? His career is done. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. When he wasn’t trying to molest straight men. He was an arrogant piece of shit to everyone else.

Comparing himself to Kirk Douglas is actually rather ironic R13