- The Washington Times - Monday, October 30, 2017

Rosie O’Donnell told her fans Monday that sexual assault allegations against Kevin Spacey over the weekend, like those against disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, were an open secret in Hollywood.

The star of Netflix’s “House of Cards” roiled the entertainment community this week by coming out as gay after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of sexual assault in 1986. Ms. O’Donnell unleashed an expletive-laden response on Mr. Spacey for saying he did not recall a party in which he allegedly forced himself on Mr. Rapp, then a 14-year-old Broadway star.

“[You] don’t remember the incident — 30 years ago? - f—- [you] kevin — like Harvey we all knew about [you] — I hope more men come forward,” she tweeted.

“I had ’heard’ the stories — not that he molested 14 yr old boys — it doesn’t surprise me,” the actress and former daytime television host added. “And it’s gross to use that accusation to come out.”


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Mr. Rapp, now a star on the television show “Star Trek: Discovery,” told Buzzfeed Saturday that he was alone in a bedroom watching television at a party when Mr. Spacey appeared in the doorway. 

“It was a frozen moment,” Mr. Rapp told Buzzfeed of the actor picking him up and “tightening” his grip. “In terms of fight or flight or freeze, I tend to freeze.”

After freeing himself from Mr. Spacey’s grasp, Mr. Rapp said he went into a bathroom and closed the door.

“I was like, ’What is happening?’ I saw on the counter next to the sink a picture of him having his arm around a man. So I think on some level I was like, ’Oh. He’s gay. I guess.’ Then I opened the door, and I was like, ’OK, I’m going to go home now.’ He followed me to the front door of the apartment, and as I opened the door to leave, he was leaning on the front door[frame]. And he was like, ’Are you sure you wanna go?’ I said, ’Yes, good night,’ and then I did leave.

Mr. Spacey issued a statement in response to the furor, apologizing for anything he may have done in his drunken state.

“I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago,” he wrote. “But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years. … I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behavior.”


SEE ALSO: ‘House of Cards’ to end amid Kevin Spacey allegations, Netflix ‘deeply troubled’


• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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