Kevin Spacey settles for £760k in 'House of Cards' compensation case
At the zenith of his career in October 2017, Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual molestation by Anthony Rapp. Rapp claimed that the incident occurred in 1986 when he was just 14 and Spacey was 26. This came shortly after the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which sparked the #MeToo movement. After disclosing further allegations against Spacey, he was promptly fired from his role as Frank Underwood in the cult Netflix series 'House of Cards'.
Faced with the massive task of completing the preplanned sixth season without the lead character, production company MRC sought compensation for years. In November 2021, an arbitrator suggested that Spacey pay $30 million, approximately £22.73 million, to the producers of 'House of Cards' due to a contract violation concerning sexual molestation.
Kevin Spacey agrees to a deal
Negotiations between the actor's lawyers and representatives of the 'House of Cards' production company have been ongoing since then. As reported by Variety, a settlement has been reached whereby Kevin Spacey will pay $1 million, roughly £760,000, in damages. This outcome might be considered a significant defeat rather than a satisfying agreement if not for additional clauses.
The actor has also agreed to disclose his medical records, undergo medical examinations, and provide testimony during the production company's trial with the insurer. MRC aims to recover the funds it had to unexpectedly shell out to complete the sixth season of 'House of Cards' as per a refreshed vision.
It is worth recalling that the final part of the Netflix series features Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) as the US president, succeeding her deceased husband. Both fans and critics alike were disappointed with the 'House of Cards' finale.
64-year-old Kevin Spacey has faced a multitude of sexual molestation allegations in recent years. He has won most court cases, often due to the statute of limitations, or achieved settlements. The actor has declared his intention to fight to restore his tarnished reputation and stage a return to acting. Last year in October, he spoke about cancel culture at Oxford University, earning a standing ovation.
