Kevin Spacey: Channel 4 documentary ‘is work of a dying network’

Kevin Spacey has attacked a Channel 4 documentary featuring fresh allegations about his behaviour towards young men, dismissing it as the product of “a dying network”.

Spacey Unmasked, a two-part programme beginning on Monday, will include testimony from a number of men who encountered the actor, from his time at high school to his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.

In a post on Twitter, the actor said: “I will not sit back and be attacked by a dying network’s one-sided ‘documentary’ about me in their desperate attempt for ratings.”

The documentary does not include a formal response from Spacey, who was cleared on all charges in his sexual assault trial in London last July.

But in his statement on social media, Spacey, 64, said: “Over the last week, I have repeatedly requested that Channel 4 afford me more than 7 days to respond to allegations made against me dating back 48 years and provide me with sufficient details to investigate these matters.

“Channel 4 has refused on the basis that they feel that asking for a response in 7 days to new, anonymised and non-specific allegations is a ‘fair opportunity’ for me to refute any allegations made against me.”

He added: “There’s a proper channel to handle allegations against me and it’s not Channel 4.

“Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated.”

He promised a further response at the weekend, and said: “Channel 4 and [production company] @‌RoastBeefTV may find themselves ‘speechless’, but I no longer will be.”

Channel 4’s brief trailer for the documentary states that “men go on the record about their experiences with the acclaimed actor”.

It includes the voice of one contributor who alleges he got into a “sell your soul situation” with Spacey.

None of the men featured in the documentary were involved in last year’s trial, which ended in Spacey’s acquittal on nine sexual offence charges relating to four men between 2001 and 2013.

Spacey Unmasked has been acquired by Warner Bros Discovery in the US and, in a sarcastic statement to Variety earlier this week, Spacey said: “I’m honoured to be starring in my first film with Warner Brothers for many years. I hope the Academy takes note of some of the great acting by the lesser-known cast.”

Spacey’s acting career was killed off by the allegations against him. He was dropped from the hit Netflix series House of Cards and he was replaced in the Ridley Scott film All The Money In The World.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: “Spacey Unmasked will broadcast on 6th and 7th May. Kevin Spacey has been given sufficient opportunity to respond.”