Entertainment
London Prosecutor Calls Kevin Spacey ‘A Sexual Bully’ Who Preys On Men
LONDON, England – A prosecution told jurors Friday at Spacey’s sexual assault trial in London that Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey got a rush from preying on other men and escalated his behavior from touchy-feely advances to violent fondling and worse.
In her opening statement, prosecutor Christine Agnew described Spacey as “a man who does not respect personal boundaries or space, a man who appears to delight in making others feel powerless and uncomfortable — a sexual bully.” “His preferred method of assault appears to be aggressively grabbing other men in the crotch.”
Kevin Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges stemming from allegations made against him while working at London’s Old Vic Theatre from 2001 to 2013. Sexual assault, indecent assault, and inducing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent are among the charges.
Winner of two Academy Awards, Kevin Spacey, whose spectacular acting career was wrecked by sex assault claims, will go on trial this week in London, accused of sexual offenses.
The stakes are great for the American actor. A conviction might land him in prison, yet an acquittal could allow him to resume work.
Kevin Spacey, according to defense counsel Patrick Gibbs, disputed all claims of nonconsensual conduct and invited jurors to ask themselves as they listened to the evidence what, if anything, had happened when he was with the guys. He claimed the alleged victims had ulterior intentions and that Spacey had left himself vulnerable to opportunists by coming out as gay in 2020.
“What has been reimagined with a sinister spin?” Gibbs stated. “What has been fabricated or twisted, and why and when, because all of these allegations occurred a long time ago?”
He predicted jurors would hear truths, half-truths, purposeful exaggerations, and “many damned lies.”
Kevin Spacey leaned forward behind a dock window, wearing spectacles and dressed in a light grey suit, white shirt, and gold tie, eagerly listening as his lawyer presented a brief review of the case. After the prosecution has rested its case, Gibbs will make a longer opening statement.
From 2003 to 2015, he was the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre. The four guys, now in their 30s or 40s, who have accused Spacey of sexual assault did not know each other, but all “had the misfortune to attract” his attention, according to Agnew.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HPCJWXLYBNHDDP3SNVPLPRMVYU.jpg "London Prosecutor Calls Kevin Spacey 'A Sexual Bully' Who Preys On Men")
A prosecution told jurors Friday at Spacey’s sexual assault trial in London that Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey got a rush from preying on other men.
One victim claimed that Kevin Spacey repeatedly groped him against his will in the early 2000s, culminating in a day when he was driving and the actor, who had been drinking, grabbed his privates so firmly that it took his breath away and nearly drove him off the road. He warned Spacey not to do it again.
Kevin Spacey “laughed and commented that his getting angry simply turned him on,” according to Agnew.
As Agnew spoke, Spacey narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips, periodically scribbling notes in a huge black binder he took into court.
During a police interview last year, Kevin Spacey stated that he was “baffled and deeply hurt” by the charges made by someone he considered a friend. He said that the events had been recreated as lies.
Agnew claimed Spacey appeared to be convinced the men wouldn’t tell anyone — that the word of a celebrity would be more credible than that of a non-celebrity.
“None of the men wanted to be touched by Kevin Spacey… in a sexual way, but he doesn’t seem to have cared very much for their feelings,” the prosecutor added. “He did what he wanted to do for his own personal sexual gratification.”
Another man who claimed Spacey molested him at a charity event in 2005 told only one acquaintance about it before coming to the police in 2017.
“Kevin Spacey… was a star, a golden boy, as he put it,” said Agnew of the actor. “He wasn’t sure he’d be believed, and even if he was, he didn’t think he’d get any support.”
Spacey stated to the police that he had not done anything without consent. He admitted making a “clumsy pass” was “entirely possible and indeed likely,” but denied groping anyone’s crotch. He implied that some of the men were after money.
A prosecution told jurors Friday at Spacey’s sexual assault trial in London that Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey got a rush from preying on other men.
In 2008, a young actor who claimed he sought help from Kevin Spacey ended up at his London flat drinking beer and smoking marijuana. He either fell asleep or passed out on the sofa and when he awoke, Spacey was having oral sex with him, according to Agnew.
The man in his early twenties claimed Spacey urged him not to tell anyone about what had happened or to reveal that he had been in Spacey’s flat. The man stated that he was shocked as Spacey held the door open for him to leave and that he then walked to a bus stop and cried.
He decided to speak with police in 2017 after reading about charges against Spacey in the United States, according to Agnew.
Kevin Spacey’s career was wrecked when sexual misconduct allegations surfaced against him during the #MeToo movement. He was fired from Netflix’s political drama “House of Cards,” in which he portrayed Frank Underwood, a vicious and corrupt lawmaker who becomes president. He was deleted from the finished film “All the Money in the World,” the scenes with Christopher Plummer were reshot.
During the four-week trial in Southwark Crown Court, a jury of nine men and five women, including two alternates, will decide his fate. He is known by his full name, Kevin Spacey Fowler. The actor, who has homes in London and the United States, is on bail.
In the 1990s, Spacey rose to prominence as one of the most recognized performers of his generation, appearing in films such as “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “LA Confidential.”
A prosecution told jurors Friday at Spacey’s sexual assault trial in London that Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey got a rush from preying on other men.
He has received numerous prestigious acting honors for his theatre, film, and television work. He earned an Academy Award for supporting actor in “The Usual Suspects” in 1995 and a Best Actor Oscar in 1999 for his performance in “American Beauty.”
Kevin Spacey just had his first film appearance in several years, starring in 2022 in Italian filmmaker Franco Nero’s “The Man Who Drew God,” and as late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman in the biopic “Once Upon a Time in Croatia.” He also has a role in the unreleased American film “Peter Five Eight.”
He has stated that he will be in high demand if he is acquitted.
“There are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges,” Spacey stated in a recent interview with Germany’s Zeit magazine.
Agnew informed jurors that they would have to assess the credibility of the victims and determine whether they were telling the truth or fabricating charges for financial gain.
“The prosecution suggests that Mr. Spacey… abused the power and influence that his reputation and fame afforded him,” Agnew said. “Taking what he wanted and who he wanted, when he wanted.”
SOURCE – (AP)
(VOR News) – The “Merc with a Mouth” will return to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend, and his contribution to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe extends beyond his R rating.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” the third standalone feature film featuring Ryan Reynolds as the regenerative reprobate, is expected to gross between $160 million and $180 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office.
The movie has already surpassed the greatest number of ticket pre-sales in 2024, according to data provided by Fandango. It is anticipated that it will break numerous records during its opening weekend.
Most noteworthy among these accomplishments is the most successful premiere for an R-rated film in history, as well as the largest domestic opening of 2024.
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has achieved the highest opening of the year with a total of $154.2 million, as per the data provided by Comscore.
Additionally, the first “Deadpool” film has achieved the highest début for any R-rated feature film with a total of $132.4 million.
Mike Bowers, the president and CEO of Harkins Theatres, a theatre corporation located in Arizona, stated, “I am confident that this will be the largest R-rated film to ever be released if it is released.” Furthermore, it is already one of the most successful presale films in the annals of our company.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” was initially rated R because of its trailer.
It is also the 34th Deadpool & Wolverine film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner. The two Deadpool films that preceded it, both of which were rated R, were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The reintroduction of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the broader Marvel catalogue was the consequence of Disney’s acquisition of the corporation in 2019.
Similar to other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is benefiting from the enthusiasm of its audience.
Audiences are anxious to view the film during its opening weekend in order to prevent spoilers. Disney has maintained the confidentiality of the majority of the film’s content, and only a limited number of press screenings have been conducted prior to the film’s release.
Bowers anticipates that individuals will continue to return for additional viewings in the weeks following the film’s premiere.
He made the observation that “this is a film that there is so much happening, so many jokes and funny sequences that no one is going to be able to eat just one, you know, they’re going to be back.”
Ellis Jacob, the president and chief executive officer of Cineplex, the largest cinema theatre operator in Canada, echoed Bower’s viewpoint. Jacob asserted that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is replete with Easter eggs and that viewers will revisit the film to attempt to locate them all.
Furthermore, he stated that a substantial number of moviegoers are purchasing tickets for premium screenings, such as IMAX, Dolby, and ScreenX, which are more expensive.
Additionally, Marvel has collaborated with movie theatres to grant licenses for items such as collector popcorn tubs and drink containers, which the theatre operators anticipate will be in high demand.
Historically, concessions have been the most profitable revenue source for movie theatres, and the presence of limited-edition products can result in even greater sales of food and beverages.
” Deadpool & Wolverine” is an essential Marvel release.
Shawn Robbins, Deadpool & Wolverine the inventor and owner of Box Office Theory, announced that Disney had “slowed down the pace” and had scheduled fewer films in the series that has dominated the global box office for over a decade. Box Office Theory is also associated with Robbins.
He stated that Disney is making an effort to correct the course after a series of theatrical errors and poor box office performance, as well as a flood of streaming content that overwhelmed even the most devoted fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Robbins pointed out that “in the end, despite the fact that this is a Marvel movie, it may be viewed equally as a midsummer action comedy that stars personalities and brands that are loved by both die-hard fans and casual viewers.”
The fact that Reynolds and Jackman have both made a name for themselves in Deadpool & Wolverine popular culture and have maintained a cordial relationship through interviews and social media makes them an ideal pairing.
Likewise, there is genuine curiosity regarding the first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and whether it will retain the qualities that made the first two Deadpool films and [Jackman’s 2017 Wolverine film] Logan so successful.
SOURCE: CNBC
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Turner Sports hopes to continue its long-standing relationship with the NBA.
On Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery informed the league that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s $1.8 billion annual bid. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been broadcast on TNT since the network started in 1988.
“We studied the offers and accepted one of them. This will allow fans to continue to experience our unequaled coverage, including the greatest live game productions in the business and our legendary studio shows and talent, as we build on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years,” WBD stated. “We submitted our matching paperwork to the league today.” We are looking forward to the NBA completing our new contract.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
The NBA Board of Governors approved the league’s 11-year media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday at its meeting in Las Vegas. WBD received all three contracts on Wednesday, beginning the five-day clock for deciding whether to match.
The new deals, for $76 billion, will begin with the 2025-26 season and entail a game being shown or streamed nationally every night during the second half of the season.
The Prime Video package would have offered games on Thursday night after it finished carrying NFL games. The other nights were Friday and Saturday.
TNT would air games on Thursday, with the other nights being streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav warned at an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league could not negotiate an agreement during their exclusive bargaining period, which ended in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have recently announced that they intend to match one of the agreements.
“During our four-decade collaboration with the NBA, we have consistently provided exceptional coverage for basketball fans. WBD stated that they behaved in good faith to offer strong proposals that were fair to both parties throughout exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations to maintain their long-standing collaboration. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.”
NBC and WBD would alternate broadcasting one of the conference finals series. ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the league’s top package and will host conference finals and the NBA Finals each year.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Amazon’s offer contained a mechanism for paying many years in advance into an escrow account, which many thought would be difficult to match. However, WBD has informed the league that it has the financial resources to do so.
“The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons originally mentioned the Amazon provision on “The Town” podcast.
People talked to the AP anonymously because they were not at liberty to discuss such serious topics.
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
WBD pays $1.4 billion per season under the existing nine-year contract, which expires after next season.
WBD is making a large financial investment, but it is necessary. Without the NBA, it would have struggled to charge its present subscriber fees to cable and satellite companies.
Retaining the NBA would also ensure that the popular “Inside the NBA” show will continue. Charles Barkley was dismissive of WBD’s negotiation position and did not believe it would match. Barkley revealed at the end of this season that he planned to retire following the next season.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
BERLIN — An American man who made threats against Taylor Swift on social media was seized before her first concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and will be held in custody until her gigs there end, authorities said Thursday.
swift | AP news Image
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
According to police, the accused stalker, a 34-year-old whose name has not been disclosed, had a ticket to Taylor’s concert at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins-Arena on Wednesday. They stated that he was detained at event admission checks because an early assessment could not completely rule out a risk.
According to police, the man threatened Taylor and her partner on social media. They say he was detained after receiving tips from the event’s organizers.
The American superstar will perform in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras tour. According to authorities, a local court has ordered that the suspected stalker be detained until Saturday.
They went on to say that Swift and the audience were always safe. The event drew approximately 60,000 people on Wednesday evening and went off without incident.
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
Before the concerts, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed the town “Swiftkirchen” and honored the singer on a “Walk of Fame” dedicated to local luminaries.
Taylor has plans to perform in two more German cities after Gelsenkirchen: Hamburg and Munich.
SOURCE | AP
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