25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Young actor claims Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted him at party
Ruari Cannon is suing Mr Spacey as well as two organisations connected to the Old Vic Theatre in London, claiming he suffered psychiatric damage as a result of sexual and emotional abuse.
The 33-year-old has waived his anonymity in the claim.
Mr Cannon alleges that Mr Spacey, who was a 'powerful figure and a world-famous actor and celebrity' at the time, assaulted him in about June 2013, when he was 'a very vulnerable young man'.
Oscar-winning actor Mr Spacey has previously denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour and wrongdoing, and details of his defence are not yet available.
According to the documents, filed in June, Mr Spacey was working as artistic director at the Old Vic Theatre at the time of the alleged assaults on a production of Sweet Bird Of Youth, and Mr Cannon was a member of the cast in this production.
After the press preview of the show on June 12, 2013, Mr Cannon attended a party at The Savoy in London organised by The Old Vic Theatre Company (The Cut) and The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000.
It is claimed that one of the alleged assaults took place at the event.
Setting out the allegations, Mr Cannon's representative said: 'Kevin Spacey pulled the claimant towards him, turned him around through 45 degrees and placed his left hand on the claimant's buttocks and lifted up the recess material of his suit.'
It is alleged that Mr Spacey then pushed Mr Cannon's underwear 'as far up' into his bottom as possible, 'so as to cause pain and distress'.
Ms Gumbel added: 'Mr Kevin Spacey pulled the claimant closer to him and whispered into the claimant's ear 'Don't worry about it'.'
Later that year, during the run of the show, Mr Cannon saw Mr Spacey at the Old Vic bar.
Mr Spacey allegedly said to him, 'I hear you have a dirty secret', and then said: 'Open up.'
His representative said: 'Kevin Spacey then forced open the claimant's mouth with his fingers and thumbs and commented 'quite a bad boy' before the claimant could pull away.
