Kevin Spacey’s sex addiction has been confirmed in court papers – and his condition, and the treatment for it, is to be the key element in a $150 million lawsuit.
In 2017, actor Anthony Rapp said that when Spacey was 27 and he was 15, the actor made a pass at him. Spacey was dropped from season six of the Netflix hit show House Of Cards.
Soon after, representatives for the two-time Oscar winner said that he was ‘taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment’.
It was reported that he was doing so at the Meadows clinic in Arizona.
In the years since, Spacey has been accused of a string of sexual assaults in numerous lawsuits and been exonerated, found not liable or had the charges dropped for other reasons.
In 2022, a jury in New York found that he did not molest Rapp — and Rapp was ordered to pay Spacey damages.
He was also cleared on a number of charges relating to his time as artistic director of the Old Vic, after a trial in London in 2023.
Last year, he denied allegations of sexual harassment and assault made in a Channel 4 documentary.
Kevin Spacey’s, pictured, sex addiction has been confirmed in court papers – and his condition, and the treatment for it, is to be the key element in a $150 million lawsuit
Now, in an astonishing turn of events, Spacey is expected to testify about personal medical details involving ‘compulsive sexual behaviour disorder’ for MRC, the TV production company that made House Of Cards
Now, in an astonishing turn of events, Spacey is expected to testify about personal medical details involving ‘compulsive sexual behaviour disorder’ for MRC, the TV production company that made House Of Cards.
MRC previously (successfully) sued Spacey for nearly $31 million, saying it had lost millions due to his sexual misconduct with crew members on the show.
An arbitrator ruled the assault allegations against Spacey were credible, and that MRC should recoup its costs for starting over without him on a shorter final series.
However, last year he struck an agreement with MRC that allowed him to pay them only $1 million, in instalments. In return, he agreed to help them to sue their insurers.
Documents filed in court earlier this month show the company now has records which relate to his stay at the Meadows clinic. These will be used in a lawsuit against their insurance company. MRC is seeking a $150 million payout, on the grounds that Spacey was ill.
In a document filed earlier this month, MRC notes: ‘On November 1, 2017, Mr Spacey’s representatives announced publicly that Mr Spacey was ‘taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment’. Plaintiffs were advised that Mr. Spacey was ‘sick’, going away for a ‘very long time’.’
In 2017, actor Anthony Rapp, pictured, said that when Spacey was 27 and he was 15, the actor made a pass at him
The document, which is redacted in parts, continues: ‘The Meadows specialises in the treatment of patients’ addictions, including sex and other addictions. In particular, The Meadows is known for its ‘Gentle Path’ programme for treating sex addiction.
‘The website for the ‘Gentle Path’ programme highlights that ‘Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder’ has been recognised by the World Health Organisation in the 11th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
‘According to the website, this disorder ‘is characterised by a persistent inability to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in recurring sexual behavior’ which ‘manifests over an extended period (six months or more)’.’ MRC is seeking to compel Netflix boss Ted Sarandos to testify.
A trial is set for December.
Included in the filing are a trove of emails from Sarandos about Spacey at the height of the crisis. They appear to show the boss of the streamer in a state of panic over the size of the deepening scandal.
Also included is an email from Spacey’s lawyer Todd Rubenstein, dated November 4, 2017, assuring Netflix the actor is ‘not incapacitated’ and is ‘available, willing and able’ to work.
Zendaya’s sparkling boost for British bling
Zendaya’s five-carat, £200,000 engagement ring was the talk of the Golden Globes, when it came to bling.
Now, industry bible The Hollywood Reporter has published a Media Impact Value (or MIV) of all the top ‘placements’ (that’s who’s wearing what, for whom) on the red carpet at the awards. Tiffany, which spends big and has more than a dozen ambassadors, topped the jewellery tree with an MIV of $6.9 million.
But London jeweller Jessica McCormack, a new entry on the chart at No 6 — and the designer of Zendaya’s rock — achieved a very respectable $2.4 million.
London jeweller Jessica McCormack, a new entry on the chart at No 6 — and the designer of Zendaya’s rock — achieved a very respectable $2.4 million
Monica Bellucci’s baby girl
Her mother is an icon of European cinema, and at 20 it looks as if Deva Cassel – Monica Bellucci’s daughter – is headed in the same direction.
Deva stars in the forthcoming Netflix adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel The Leopard, playing Angelica.
Rising Italian actor Saul Nanni plays her lover, Prince Tancredi.
The two fell for each other during the making of the series, and are now arguably Europe’s most beautiful couple. (In the 1963 Visconti film, the roles were taken by Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon.)
Deva, whose father is French actor Vincent Cassel, has been modelling since she was 15 and is a Dior muse. She said: ‘I’m too attached to fashion to completely leave the business or to have it take second place. I plan on doing both for the foreseeable future.
‘My parents leave me to make up my own mind. The most frequent advice is, “Sure, go for it, but always keep your head on your shoulders” and “Enjoy what you do”.
Deva stars in the forthcoming Netflix adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel The Leopard, playing Angelica
‘I think it could be a lot of fun to find myself on the same set as my parents, shooting a movie or a series together. We sometimes discuss the idea. I’m open to it, but not just yet, since I feel that I still have a lot of road to travel first.’
The Leopard, streaming from March 5, is not Deva’s first acting gig. She is the voice of Ennui in Inside Out 2.
Actor Jamie Foxx is one of the talking heads in the Luther Vandross film Never Too Much, in cinemas for one night only on January 30 – and he had much to offer.
Producer Dawn Porter says: ‘I have probably never laughed so much as the time spent interviewing Jamie Foxx. I wish you could see all of the impressions – but I could not find a place for his imitations of Jay-Z or Kanye, although I promise you I thought about it.’
Oscars stars partying after LA burns? That’s not a good look
What if we gave a party … and nobody came? The Academy has decided that the Oscars will go ahead on March 2 — in less than seven weeks’ time.
But will celebs dare to go out and have a good time at the famous A-list bashes before and after, given the current state of the LA disaster?
The feeling among publicists advising celebrities is that the Academy Awards itself will be respectful of losses, celebrate the work of firefighters and raise money for disaster relief — and hence fine.
This was supported by a statement from Academy Chief Executive Officer Bill Kramer, who said the ceremony ‘will include special moments acknowledging those who fought so bravely against the wildfires’.
The Grammys, next month, are going to be a telethon, with awards attached. Universal Music has cancelled its pre-Grammy showcase and after-party, and will be ‘redirecting’ the money it would have spent towards wildlife disaster relief.
But what about Vanity Fair, whose party has become an integral part of Oscars night?
Martin Scorsese and Lily Gladstone celebrate during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars in March 2024
A publicist to a number of A-list clients tells me they will be advising them to stay away. ‘No one wants to see a bunch of overpaid celebrities celebrating in the midst of destruction.
‘I would only advise a client to go to Vanity Fair if Vanity Fair proves they would be donating every single penny.
‘My personal opinion? If anyone does anything it’s going to be incredibly tone deaf, considering it costs between $5,000 to $50,000 to even get one of those celebrities ready to do a party.’
Representatives for the magazine and a publicist of the party itself did not return requests for comment. Some events – like the AFI (American Film Institute) lunch – have already been scrapped. The Oscars’ annual nominees lunch has been cancelled, too. As has the BAFTA LA Tea Party.
The fires will certainly have put the brakes on campaigning unexpectedly early in the season – possibly benefiting bigger films like Conclave, The Brutalist, Emilia Perez and Wicked, whose efforts are well underway.
Smaller movies like I’m Still Here could be overshadowed.
The situation may also lead to greater attention being paid to the BAFTAs – and more clamour for BAFTA parties.
The elegant Chanel and Charles Finch party the night before the event is always a hot ticket.
On the night itself – February 16 – a crowd heads to the Chiltern Firehouse to party with Leonardo DiCaprio. There’s also the infamously hard to crash Netflix do. With Emilia Perez nominated for 11 BAFTAs, they may have a lot to celebrate.
Don’t play games with Mel Giedroyc. The TV presenter reveals she’s so determined to win at board games that her own sister now refuses to take her on.
Giedroyc, who is currently hosting Pictionary on ITV, said: ‘I am ridiculously competitive when it comes to games.
‘One of my sisters refuses to play Articulate! with me because I got so aggressive with her the last time we went head to head.’
Almost beaten by the banjo…
Edward Norton lost out to Kieran Culkin in the Best Supporting Actor slot at the Golden Globes, but there is some momentum building behind his performance as folk icon Pete Seeger, opposite Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (which opens here today).
Three-time Oscar nominee Norton said that preparing for his performance was particularly challenging. ‘If you’re someone who came up in New York City in the theatre with even a passing interest in human affairs, Pete Seeger was a paragon. He was a folk singer who cleaned up the Hudson River. You knew about Pete Seeger.
‘I’ve played guitar for many years, and I know his music,’ he continued, ‘but banjo was a new animal for me. They say dying is easy, comedy is hard. Well, I think guitar is easy and banjo is hard.’
Three-time Oscar nominee Norton said that preparing for his performance (pictured) was particularly challenging
It’s almost half a century since Fawlty Towers was first broadcast, but demand for John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers – The Play is still brisk.
I can reveal that the show, which is based on three Fawlty episodes (The Hotel Inspectors, Communication Problems and The Germans), will return to the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue from June 24 till September 13 2025.
It’s been playing to packed houses since opening in May last year but its current run at the Apollo ends in March.
Cleese said: ‘It’s heartwarming that West End audiences still think Fawlty is as funny as ever. September will mark 50 years since the first ever episode was broadcast on the BBC, but here we are, all these years later.’