At least eight current or former employees of House of Cards have reported that lead actor Kevin Spacey made the work environment feel “toxic” through his “predatory” actions of sexual harassment. CNN says that a former production assistant even said that Spacey sexually assaulted him during the show’s early years.
The workers come forward with their experiences following actor Anthony Rapp revealing that Spacey made sexual advances toward him when Rapp was only 14 years old. After Rapp shared his story, Netflix first announced that the upcoming season of House of Cards would be its last, and then suspended its production in order to ask its cast and crew about any concerning encounters with Spacey.
Several current or former “House of Cards” employees have alleged sexual harassment or assault by Kevin Spacey https://t.co/J8ByXWupwt pic.twitter.com/KsxQLPDl3X
— CNN (@CNN) November 2, 2017
The former PA who spoke with CNN said that he was once assigned to pick up Spacey in a car and escort him to set. While the two were just minutes away from work, a driving Spacey put his hands down the PA’s pants. “I was in a state of shock,” the PA said. “He was a man in a very powerful position on the show and I was someone very low on the totem pole and on the food chain there.”
Once on set, the PA helped Spacey carry his things from the car to the star’s trailer. Alone together in the trailer, Spacey then initiated “inappropriate contact” with the assistant. When the assistant told Spacey that he wasn’t comfortable, Spacey was “visibly flustered” and left the set for the rest of the day. The incident occurred months after the same PA had told a supervisor that Spacey was sexually harassing him. Although it was ensured that the PA and Spacey were never alone together as a result of the complaint, Spacey’s behavior had reportedly calmed enough for the assistant to feel comfortable in working with him again.
“I have no doubt that this type of predatory behavior was routine for him and that my experience was one of many and that Kevin had few if any qualms about exploiting his status and position,” the assistant told CNN. “It was a toxic environment for young men who had to interact with him at all in the crew, cast, background actors.”
Netflix reportedly only knew about one sexual harassment incident with Spacey about five years ago, which the company believed “was resolved swiftly.” In a statement about the eight people’s allegations, Netflix said that it “is not aware of any other incidents involving Kevin Spacey on set. We continue to collaborate with MRC and other production partners to maintain a safe and respectful working environment. We will continue to work with MRC during this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the production, and have nothing further to share at this time.”
MRC, House of Cards‘ production company, provided further insight into what could be the sexual harassment situation Netflix alluded to. “During our first year of production in 2012, someone on the crew shared a complaint about a specific remark and gesture made by Kevin Spacey,” the company’s statement said. “Immediate action was taken following our review of the situation and we are confident the issue was resolved promptly…Mr. Spacey willingly participated in a training process and since that time MRC has not been made aware of any other complaints involving Mr. Spacey.”
Other former crew members said that, despite receiving information about sexual harassment, Spacey’s touching mostly occurred in open spaces and that his inappropriate behavior was well known. Workers never complained in fear of losing employment. “What gets me is we have to sign sexual harassment paperwork before the start of the show and apparently [Spacey] doesn’t have to do anything and he gets away scott-free with this behavior,” said a former camera assistant.
Earlier this week, former employees of London’s Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey served as artistic director for 11 years, also accused him of sexual misconduct. In response to more allegations appearing against him, Spacey’s publicist announced on Wednesday, “Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment. No other information is available at this time.”