Kevin Spacey: 'Less in Jail' Than Before

Nine years after sexual assault allegations led to his exile from mainstream Hollywood, Kevin Spacey has expressed feeling "much more welcomed" and "less in jail." The two-time Oscar winner, speaking on Bill Maher's podcast, acknowledged that while he never denied "fire," it wasn't a "raging forest fire." He emphasized that he and his legal team have been "found not guilty in every court we've gone into with a jury."

Spacey specifically mentioned winning in federal court in New York regarding Anthony Rapp's allegations, which were later dismissed by a Manhattan court in 2022. He was also acquitted of nine charges in the UK in 2023 after four men accused him of sexual assault between 2001 and 2013. Since his acquittals, Spacey has appeared in small projects and received an award in Italy, signaling attempts at a career comeback.

The actor, who came out as gay after Rapp's allegations, admitted to being "very, very closeted" for years and conceded that he "hit on a lot of guys." He suggested that perhaps "nine years has been enough" for his professional hiatus, comparing it to a sports player being "benched for seven games." Spacey believes people are now looking at the facts and the court outcomes, feeling that positive momentum is building for his return to the industry.