Europe 1 with AFP 3:36 p.m., October 21, 2022
The popular jury of a civil court in New York dismissed this Thursday, October 20, actor Anthony Rapp, who accused the fallen Hollywood star Kevin Spacey of having subjected him to sexual touching, 36 years ago during of a night out in Manhattan.
The popular jury of a civil court in New York dismissed, Thursday, October 20, Anthony Rapp, facing Kevin Spacey.
The actor accused the fallen Hollywood star of sexually touching him when he was 14 at a party in Manhattan.
Anthony Rapp claimed $40 million
After a short deliberation, the jury delivered its decision, rejecting claims by Anthony Rapp, 50, who sought $40 million in damages.
"Mr. Spacey is satisfied to live in a country where citizens have the right to be judged by impartial jurors who make their decision on evidence and not on rumors or on social networks", rejoiced his lawyer, Jennifer Keller.
Anthony Rapp "gave his truth to the court", for his part declared his lawyer, Peter Saghir.
"If we respect the jury's verdict, it doesn't change what happened to him," he added.
Present throughout the trial, which started on October 6, the two actors maintained their version of the facts.
Three other cases in the UK
Kevin Spacey, 63, is not done with legal troubles, however.
He is still being prosecuted in the United Kingdom for sexual assaults against three men between March 2005 and April 2013, when he was director of a London theater, and for which he pleaded not guilty in July.
The case, revealed at the end of October 2017, at the very beginning of the #MeToo phenomenon of free speech on sexual violence, was followed by other accusations of sexual assault against the actor.
She had led to the sidelining of Kevin Spacey in the entertainment world.