*The following article contains discussion of sexual assault.
In 2017 - amidst the rise of the #metoo movement - actor Anthony Rapp disclosed to Buzzfeed News a shocking incident that occurred in 1986, when Rapp was 14 years old.
According to Rapp, fellow actor Kevin Spacey, who was 26 at the time, climbed on top of him and made sexual advances.
Rapp alleged in the interview that at the end of a night following a party, Spacey "picked him up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him" where he attempted sexual advances before Rapp could get away.
Rapp sued Spacey for assault, battery, and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.
The case was eventually reduced to the charge of sexual battery, as the judge was convinced by Spacey's team to drop the other two charges.
On Friday, the jury sided with Spacey, finding no evidence that he sexually abused Rapp in 1986.
Upon the delivery of the verdict, Rapp took to Twitter to share a powerful, heartfelt post that read:
"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have my case heard before a jury, and I thank the members of the jury for their service."
"Bringing this lawsuit was always about shining a light, as part of the larger movement to stand up against all forms of sexual violence."
"I pledge to keep on advocating for efforts to ensure that we can live and work in a world that is free from sexual violence of any kind. I sincerely hope that victims can continue to tell their stories and fight for accountability."
\u201chttps://t.co/JrvFBbSMjq\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
Tweets of support came flooding in.
\u201c@albinokid We love you. We believe you. We support you. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@hankquinones @albinokid Spacey himself doesn\u2019t even deny he did it, his lawyer claimed that because that\u2019s her job; Spacey says he was probably just too drunk to remember it. Anthony didn\u2019t tarnish anything; Spacey did that himself.\nhttps://t.co/XdT9GVih51\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid Just wanted to say that as disappointing as the verdict was, your bravery in speaking about what happened to you gives power to others and will save lives. We love you and stand with you, @albinokid!\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid In the end, people trust and respect you and know your heart. And you have a career. People will trust you. You stood up for what was right against what was wrong, and that\u2019s something to be proud about.\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid i\u2019m so sorry. we stand with you, we believe you, and we are here for you.\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid I believe in you. I will always believe you. No matter what other say. Trauma is not easy to process specially in a society that tells all of us "boys/men can't be r@ped" or S.A. And the power inbalance is just adds another layer of anger. I love you. I believe you.\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid sorry the jurors sided with him and not you Anthony, like so many others it took great courage for you to not only speak about what he did to you but to try and hold him accountable and you helped others have the same courage\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid thank you for giving a start to difficult conservations. your bravery, courage and strength has helped more people than you could ever know. hold your head high and stay strong. we stand with you \ud83d\udc99\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid Your courage & grace through this is inspiring. I appreciate your voice and hope you know you do not stand alone.\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
\u201c@albinokid Anthony, your continued efforts to protect the vulnerable from abuse are heartwarming. At the same time, the fact that you speak from a place of very personal knowledge and hurt, and make yourself further vulnerable in doing so, makes you an incredible human being. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member (@Anthony Rapp SAG-AFTRA National & NY Board Member) 1666301537
Spacey's lawyer made a statement following the delivery of the verdict:
"Mr. Spacey is grateful to live in a country where the citizens have a right to trial by impartial jurors who make their decision based on evidence and not rumor or social media."
In August, Spacey was ordered to pay House of Cards producers $31 million to cover losses they incurred firing the actor after he breached his contract by violating the company's sexual harassment policy.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, help is out there. You can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 1-800-656-4673, use their Live Chat tool: https://www.rainn.org/get-help, or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
In Canada, help is available through the Ending Violence Association of Canada website.
International resources can be found through the Rape Crisis Network Europewebsite.
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