Earlier this week at London’s Southwark Crown Court, a jury decided the fate of Kevin Spacey over multiple counts of sexual assault – the actor was cleared of all nine charges.
The famed actor was spotted at the exclusive private members spot, the Groucho Club, in Soho, London, after being cleared of sexual assault charges.
The Oscar-winning actor, accompanied by about seven friends, enjoyed whiskey while marking his 64th birthday, which happened to fall on the same night as the verdict.
Earlier in the day, Spacey had broken down in tears outside Southwark Crown Court after being found not guilty of assaulting four men. Despite the challenging trial, witnesses at the Groucho Club observed him looking proud and sitting by the entrance for everyone to see during the celebration.
His backpack featured a “be kind” button, reflecting a different side of Spacey from the one seen during the trial. Inside the club, no one sang “Happy Birthday,” but the atmosphere was reportedly joyful.
Outside the court earlier that day, Spacey expressed his gratitude to his friends, especially his long-time pal and manager, Evan Lowenstein, who accompanied him to the Groucho Club.
Wearing casual attire and carrying an umbrella in the rain, Spacey left the club around midnight, clearly relieved after facing the charges of assaults against four men over a span of 20 years.
During the trial, the House of Cards star tearfully acknowledged the personal and professional impact of the allegations – and how he felt as if people had rushed to judge him without knowing the full story.
“My world exploded,” Spacey testified, per Page Six. “There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered, I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days.”
The case involved four men who accused Spacey of aggressive actions, but he maintained that his encounters with men were consensual. While admitting to being a “big flirt,” he stated that his only misstep was making a “clumsy pass” by touching a man’s groin.
Spacey’s defense lawyer, Patrick Gibbs, argued that three of the accusers were liars, and their encounters had been “reimagined with a sinister spin.” He accused them of opportunistically using the #MeToo movement to seek financial gain.
While Spacey has been cleared of the charges, his reputation has already been severely affected, and it is possible that he may potentially not be welcomed back to Hollywood in the near future.
READ MORE
- Elton John appears in London court as star witness in Kevin Spacey sexual assault trial – makes shocking claim
- Sinéad O’Connor’s heartbreaking last words before death revealed
