It has been a little less than five years since Kevin Spacey's Oscar-winning career was upended by a series of sexual misconduct accusations, starting when Anthony Rapp accused him of making an unwanted advance in 1986.
Both actors are now facing off in Manhattan federal court for a trial in Rapp's $40 million civil lawsuit over the incident, which allegedly occurred when he was 14.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan and lawyers for both sides on Thursday selected a jury of 12 people.
All jurors denied personally knowing Spacey or Rapp, or having read or heard anything about the case that would prevent them from reaching a fair verdict.
“You may have heard of one or the other of them,” Mr Kaplan told prospective jurors before screening them for possible bias. “You may have seen them doing what they do for a living.”
Spacey, 63, has denied Rapp's accusations and other sexual misconduct charges.
“We look forward to a trial by jury with actual evidence rather than trial by social media,” Spacey's lawyer Jennifer Keller said on Wednesday.
Rapp, who starred in the Broadway musical Rent, claimed in a November 2020 lawsuit that Spacey forcibly touched him during a party at Spacey's New York home. He said he left after the brief encounter.
Rapp, 50, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Spacey won Oscars for Best Actor in American Beauty and Best Supporting Actor in The Usual Suspects, but his career largely ended after more than 20 men accused him of sexual misconduct.
Netflix dropped him from its political drama House of Cards, and Christopher Plummer replaced him in the role of J Paul Getty in All the Money in the World a few weeks before the movie's scheduled release.
Spacey faces a criminal trial in London next year after pleading not guilty to five sex offence charges over alleged assaults between 2005 and 2013.
He was charged with indecent assault in Massachusetts in 2018 over allegations he sexually abused an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket bar in 2016, but prosecutors later dropped the charges after the victim refused to give evidence.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
RESULTS
2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)
2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam
3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri
4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
