"Justice is in court, not on Twitter." How Kevin Spacey survived the "cancellation", proved his innocence and what Elton John thinks about it

Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, who became one of the main targets of the cancel culture movement in 2017, reflects on his legal victories. In an interview with Ksenia Sobchak, the actor explained why social media cannot replace the justice system, how true friends like Elton John help him in court, and why he looks for sexuality even in “villains.”

In a Nutshell: How It All Began and How It Ended

Actor Kevin Spacey found himself at the center of a high-profile scandal in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp (Anthony Rapp) claimed that Spacey had allegedly made a sexual advance toward him at a party in 1986, when Rapp was 14 years old. This was followed by other allegations from men, some of whom claimed they had been subjected to harassment or inappropriate behavior by Spacey. In the wake of these allegations, his career suffered significantly: he was removed from the series “House of Cards,” and many of his projects were canceled or reshot.

It is important to note, however, that allegations are not the same as proven guilt. In 2022, a New York court dismissed Anthony Rapp’s lawsuit, and in 2023, a British jury acquitted Spacey on all nine criminal counts of sexual offenses. Spacey himself has repeatedly denied any non-consensual acts and claimed that many of the encounters were consensual or did not occur at all. Despite the acquittals, the controversy surrounding his reputation continues, and public opinion on the matter remains divided.

Twitter vs. the Law

Spacey harshly criticizes the current trend of “media lynching” and social media backlash. He notes that today people are “canceled” on the basis of "moral values", which are different for everyone, instead of relying on the law.

Justice Isn't About Likes. The actor is convinced that social media is mistakenly viewed as a tool of justice. “You won’t find justice on social media,” he says, insisting that only in court—with a judge, a jury, and evidence—is it possible to make an “accurate expert assessment” of a situation.

Managers in the industry often make decisions to terminate employees without waiting for the results of an investigation, simply because they fear being associated with the accused person.

Who supported the actor?

Spacey divides people into those who only called after his victory and true friends who have been by his side since 2017.

One of these “wonderful friends” turned out to be Elton John. The singer not only expressed his personal support, but also spoke out defense witness at Spacey's trial.

Humanitarian Mission: The Fight Against AIDS

Reflecting on his past, the actor talks about a significant humanitarian trip to South Africa in 2002 with Bill Clinton.

Attracting investors and raising awareness about AIDS. Spacey emphasizes the importance of providing information about medications for mothers that help prevent the transmission of the disease to their children.

The Sexuality of "Villains"

When talking about his profession, Spacey notes that he never labels his characters as “bad guys.” In his view, refraining from judging a character gives the actor freedom.

When working on a role (such as Richard III), he tries to find human and unexpected traits in the character, such as a sense of humor or sexuality, which the viewer doesn't expect to see in a character like that.