Kevin Spacey denied crotch touching was his ‘trademark’ in questioning on Friday, in which he became increasingly irritated at the prosecutor who accused him of sexually assaulting four men.
In a heated exchange that required the intervention of the judge, Spacey was asked about allegations that he grabbed a man backstage at a charity event at a theater.
“Absolute bullshit! he reacted as chuckles emerged in the crowded courtroom.
Spacey was on the witness stand for a second day at Southwark Crown Court – his last chance to convince jurors he has never assaulted anyone in a case that could affect his ability to restart his career, marred by charges of sexual misconduct.
The 63-year-old American actor, who is identified in court by his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler, pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges including counts of sexual and indecent assault and one count of pushing a person engaging in penetrative sex without her consent.
The allegations against the double Oscar winner date from 2001 to 2013. He was then at the Old Vic theater, where he was notably artistic director.
He testified that he never sexually assaulted three men, saying two of them shared consensual encounters with him. For the fourth, he said he was just “clumsy”.
Spacey objected to the term “crotch grab” to describe what he did.
“I would say in my estimation it’s not a catch, not a fumbling,” he said of what he did. “It’s a soft touch. »
“The fact is, Mr. Spacey Fowler, that’s your modus operandi,” replied prosecutor Christine Agnew.
The alleged victims say they came forward after allegations against Spacey surfaced in the US in 2017 as the #MeToo (#MeToo) movement gained momentum.
Prosecutor Agnew said Spacey took advantage of his status as “the darling of the London theater scene” and knew his victims were unlikely to report him.
Spacey said he only used his position to restore the Old Vic to its former glory.
“I didn’t have a magic wand that I waved in people’s faces every time I wanted someone to go to bed with me,” he said.
Asked about the most serious charge he faces, that he performed oral sex on an aspiring actor who fell asleep or passed out on his couch, prosecutor Agnew disputed Spacey’s account that the encounter had been consensual.
She questioned Spacey’s explanation that he phoned the man out of concern, after he rushed out of his flat. She suggested the man was, in fact, still passed out when the call was made, indicating it was either a mistake or an unintended call.
“That’s your theory,” he said.
“It’s the prosecution’s case,” she said.
“And he is weak! “, he retorted.