Kevin Spacey has said he will “voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged” to defend himself against five counts of sexual assault.
The 62-year-old actor is to be charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men, and another charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
According to a statement by Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, two of the alleged incidents took place in March 2005 in London against one man, and a third sexual assault allegedly took place in August 2008 against a second man.
The fourth sexual assault is alleged to have taken place in April 2013 in Gloucestershire against the third man, the agency said.
Sexual misconduct allegations first surfaced against Spacey in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the two-time Oscar winner of making a sexual advance against him when Rapp was 14.
It was wondered whether the House of Cards actor would have to be extradited, which is the case for someone who doesn’t live in the UK and refuses to return to face charges. But in a statement given to Good Morning America this morning, he said he will now come to the UK and is “confident” he can prove his innocence.
“I very much appreciate the Crown Prosecution Service’s statement in which they carefully reminded the media and the public that I am entitled to a fair trial, and innocent until proven otherwise,” he said via a spokesperson.
“While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”
Earlier this month, it was announced that Spacey will return to the screens, after being cast in the UK-Mongolian-Hungarian film about Genghis Khan’s grandson, Batu Khan, called 1242 – Gateway to the West.
This comes five years since he was erased from Ridley Scott’s All The Money In The World, after allegations first emerged.
