Fury mounts as Kevin Spacey's film premiere is scrapped by West End venue because they were 'horrified' to be linked to him - despite his sex assault acquittal
- Prince Charles Cinema cancels show over association with House of Cards star
A central London cinema refusing to host the premiere of Kevin Spacey's first film since he was acquitted of sex assault charges has been warned it will 'rue' the decision to cancel him.
The Prince Charles Cinema, just off Leicester Square, claimed that it had not realised the House of Cards actor was appearing in Control, a new independent British film.
Boss Greg Lynn said the cinema could not host the premiere of the movie because he and his staff were 'horrified' by the actor's inclusion.
The Oscar-winning star was cleared of a series of sex attacks this year. Control was made last year and Spacey is not one of the main stars, appearing in a voice role rather than on screen.
The Prince Charles Cinema's decision has sparked outrage. Ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of being a killer by a fantasist known as 'Nick' who was believed by police until he was revealed to be a liar, said: 'The cinema will be forever linked to cancel culture , the antithesis for what the entertainment industry should be known. I hope that the Prince Charles Cinema will rue the day they cancelled Kevin Spacey'.
He added: 'We do not look to cinemas or cinema bosses to act as judge and jury in UK. Or to act as a superior court of appeal from our criminal justice system'.
Another critic said: 'The cancelling of a man proven innocent – purely because of prejudice – should lead to customers who believe in justice and fairness boycotting this cinema'. A third added: 'God this is ridiculous. Not that it matters, but Spacey doesn’t even appear in the film, we just hear his voice'.
![Kevin Spacey was cleared of sexually assaulting four men following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in July this year. His first movie since then is due for release but a London cinema has refused to hold the premiere](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/15/01/76571503-12631933-image-m-24_1697331119354.jpg)
Kevin Spacey was cleared of sexually assaulting four men following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in July this year. His first movie since then is due for release but a London cinema has refused to hold the premiere
![Boss Greg Lynn said the cinema could not host the premiere of the film because he and his staff were 'horrified' by the actor's inclusion](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/16/16/76619477-12635525-image-a-1_1697469026484.jpg)
Boss Greg Lynn said the cinema could not host the premiere of the film because he and his staff were 'horrified' by the actor's inclusion
Control stars Welsh actress Lauren Metcalfe as a British politician who is kidnapped by an unseen hijacker, played by Spacey, as he takes over the controls of her self-driving car.
Spacey himself does not appear in the film – he is heard only in phone calls with Metcalfe's character as he pilots her car around London.
But in an email sent to co-star Ms Metcalfe, the Prince Charles' boss Mr Lynn said the cinema could not host the premiere of the film because of her co-star.
He wrote: 'We have an issue. It is with my apologies that I have to inform you that we have cancelled your hire with us.
'Last night it came to our attention that your film features Kevin Spacey, in particular his first film since the court case.
'My staff as well as I are horrified that we are being mentioned in the same breath as his new film for the premiere.'
The Sunday Telegraph, which first reported the story, contacted Mr Lynn for comment and was told: 'There is no story here.'
Ms Metcalfe told the paper: 'He (Spacey) has been proven to be innocent and who are they to say otherwise? Kevin Spacey has done nothing wrong.'
The film will now have its premiere at the Genesis Cinema in Bethnal Green.
Director Gene Fallaize wrote in an Instagram post: 'The #controlmovie World Premiere will now take place at the larger Genesis Cinema on Nov 14 due to a number of reasons including an overwhelming demand for tickets, so thank you to everyone for your support, and now we can get more of you in!'
Spacey, 64, was found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men following a trial in July at Southwark Crown Court.
![The Prince Charles Cinema sits just off of Leicester Square in the heart of London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/15/01/76571421-12631933-image-a-22_1697331108478.jpg)
The Prince Charles Cinema sits just off of Leicester Square in the heart of London
He had been accused of abusing his fame and power to enact the nine attacks on his accusers during his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.
But he had called the claims 'madness', and accused those behind them of lying for financial gain.
As well as being acquitted by an English judge earlier this year, last year Spacey saw off a civil lawsuit brought by stage actor Anthony Rapp, the first person to publicly accuse the actor of sex assault in 2017.
But the damage was already done – the accusations derailed Spacey's otherwise glittering showbiz career, in which he had starred in huge films such as The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, for which he won Oscars.
He also scooped gongs and nods for his turn as Frank Underwood in the Netflix-produced US remake of House of Cards, and won acclaim for his turns on the boards in a number of stage productions.
Spacey and his production companies were ordered to pay $31million (£25.5million) to House of Cards producers MRC for violating their sexual harassment policy.
MRC said it had been presented with credible claims of inappropriate behaviour by Spacey while on set – conduct that 'constituted a material breach of his acting and executive producing agreements', reported entertainment news site Deadline.
Spacey was rushed to hospital earlier this month after reportedly suffering a health scare during a film festival.