Kevin Spacey will not receive the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award in the wake of the allegations made against him.
The ‘House of Cards’ star – who has been accused by actor Anthony Rapp of making a sexual advance towards him when he was just 14-years-old in 1986 – was due to be honoured by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his longstanding career but the award has now been taken from him.
The Academy said in a statement: ”The International Academy has announced today that in light of recent events it will not honour Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award.”
It was announced back in June that Spacey would be handed the award for being ”one of the great multi-dimensional talents”.
Bruce L. Paisner, Academy President and CEO, said at the time: ”Kevin is one of the great multi-dimensional talents in our industry. From his acting in many movies and television shows to his successful stewardship of the Old Vic theatre in London and his outstanding deal making and acting prowess in House of Cards, he’s climbed every mountain there is. We are thrilled that he will be accepting the Founders Award.”
Meanwhile, Spacey had previously admitted he was ”beyond horrified” to hear Anthony’s claims but insisted he couldn’t remember the alleged ”encounter”.
In a statement, he said: ”I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I’m beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago.
”But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he described having carried with him all these years.”
