Elton John was among the A-listers called to testify at the U.K trial of Kevin Spaceyl. He spoke on the side of the defense.
Why Did John Say at the Trial?
John appeared briefly in court via video conference speaking after his husband, David Furnish. Both testified that Spacey did not attend the annual party at their Windsor home on the night the accuser said he was attacked.
The alleged victim claimed he was driving to John’s White Tie & Tiara Ball in 2004 or 2005 when Spacey grabbed his crotch so forcefully that he almost ran off the road.
Furnish supported Spacey’s testimony. He said the actor only attended the event in 2001. He did not appear in photos of the 2004 or 2005 event. All guests who attend are photographed each year.
John appeared on camera in court wearing yellow-tinted sunglasses, a dark blue jacket, and a light blue open-collared shirt. He recalled that Spacey flew into the early 2000s event in a private jet. He said that Spacey’s appearance was a surprise, and it was a big deal since he was an award-winning actor.
The musician remembered that Spacey bought a Mini Cooper that was auctioned off that night for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Spacey claimed he spent the most money “ever” on that model of car. He kept it in John’s garage until he could pick it up.
The Date Was Important
The alleged victim said he could not have gotten the date wrong because he almost crashed the car, and it was a traumatic event for him.
The timeline is critical because the man said Spacey had fondled him several times over the years beginning in the early 2000s. He said the incident in the car was the final one. He threatened to hit the actor if it happened again and Kevin Spacey avoided him ever since.
Spacey said he was friends with his accuser, and they had some romantic contact. But the man was straight, so the actor respected his wishes not to go any further. He was hurt upon hearing that the man reported him to the police and “reimagined” their consensual encounter.
Furnish said he knew the accuser. Both he and Spacey described him as “charming”.
Details of the Trial
Kevin Spacey testified for the first time in his U.K. trial on Thursday denying four men’s allegations and offering his versions of the events and relationships in question. He is being accused of sexual assault, indecent assault, and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
He has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges. His accusers have provided testimony in the courtroom this week and cannot be named publicly under British law.
Spacey’s career came to an end in 2017 after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of sexual misconduct even though he was cleared of charges in 2019.
At the end of his testimony on Thursday, Spacey tearfully reflected on how the accusations changed his life.
“My world exploded. There was a rush to judgment and before the first question was asked or answered, I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days,” he said.