London's Old Vic theater has received 20 testimonies alleging sexual harassment by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey. The theater has apologized for staff not being able to talk openly before, but the allegations may continue.
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London's Old Vic Theater on Thursday released the findings of an internal investigation into alleged harassment by Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey.
The probe, which began on October 31, has revealed "20 personal testimonies … of alleged inappropriate behaviour carried out by Kevin Spacey during his time as Artistic Director," according to a press release.
The theater stressed that "no legal claims, formal grievances, formal disputes, settlement agreements or payments made or authorised were made at all in relation to Kevin Spacey during his tenure."
The statement said that the theater had not been able to verify any of the allegations and that Spacey had not commented on them. In all but one case, the statement says, the individuals did not come forward at the time of the alleged harassment.
From Harvey Weinstein to Martin Luther: DW's 'Men of the Year' in culture
While GQ magazine includes Arnold Schwarzenegger and Philipp Lahm in its "Men of the Year" awards, DW's culture department picked men who made headlines on the cultural scene in 2017.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
Jimmy Kimmel
In the US, Jimmy Kimmel seems to spearhead a non-parliamentary opposition with his late night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live." He had tears in his eyes when he spoke about weapons laws after the October shootings in his hometown, Las Vegas. Like his colleagues Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah, he doesn't ridicule Donald Trump; he simply uses facts to expose the US president.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
Harvey Weinstein
The influential US film mogul is proof that a man of the year doesn't necessarily make news with favorable headlines. Dozens of women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment or assault against Harvey Weinstein; police are investigating rape allegations. What's worse: His behavior was an open secret in Hollywood.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Gombert
Kevin Spacey
Another career that is in tatters: Oscar-award winning US actor Kevin Spacey faces sexual misconduct allegations by male colleagues. Filming of the highly acclaimed series "House of Cards" has been shelved. The actor seized the moment to out himself as gay – as if that were a reason for sexual abuse. He is said to have checked into a rehab center.
Image: picture alliance/Geisler-Fotopress/D. Van Tine
Ronan Farrow
The son of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow got the ball rolling on Weinstein this year with his report in the New Yorker. A veritable wunderkind, Ronan graduated from college at age 15, went on to study law in Yale, and then worked as a government adviser during the Obama administration. He is estranged from his father.
Image: Getty Images/M. Schipper
Mahershala Ali
The actor who plays lobbyist Remy Danton in "House of Cards" in 2017 became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar: He was awarded best supporting actor for his role as drug dealer Juan in "Moonlight." Coming up for the 43-year-old, who also welcomed his first child this year: a lead role in the third season of the HBO series "True Detective."
Image: picture-alliance/empics/I. West
Tom Tykwer
Germans have been watching top-notch US and British series for years, while there hasn't been much on offer from their home country. That changed this year with director Tom Tykwer's "Babylon Berlin," a period drama set in the Weimar Republic in Berlin. Season one has debuted, and the next two seasons are in production. Tykwer also heads the jury at next year's Berlin Film Festival.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/C. Seidel
Salvador Sobral
In May, the Portuguese jazz singer won the Eurovision Song Contest for his country with the hit song "Amar pelos dois." Sobral was in fragile health at the time and received a heart transplant in December.
Image: Reuters/G. Garanich
Florian Ebner
The art historian founded the "Fotobiennale" exhibitions in Heidelberg and Mannheim, and he also curated the German pavilion at the 2015 Venice Art Exhibition. After four years of heading the photo collection at Germany's Folkwang museum in Essen, this year, Ebner moved on to head the photo collection at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Emmanuel Macron
With France the guest of honor, the French President was the star at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair. His speech on language, democracy and diversity was filled pathos, contrasting with Merkel's matter-of-fact tone. Macron also opened the Louvre Abu Dhabi. He didn't initiate the deal, but wouldn't complain about the nearly half a billion euros paid to his country for the use of the Louvre name.
Image: Reuters/S. Kumar
Chris Dercon
Before the Belgian art historian took over as director of the Berliner Volksbühne, people were worried he would drive the theater to artistic insignificance. Self-proclaimed activists occupied the theater for a week after he took office: The ensuing hype should create enough buzz to make sure the venue is busy enough in his first season.
Image: Getty Images/H. Foerster
Martin Luther
October 31, on the 500th anniversary of the reformation, was an extra holiday this year in Germany. Defiantly, Martin Luther is to have uttered the words "Here I stand, I can do no other," a phrase regarded as symbolic of the reformer's convictions, which included a pronounced intolerance toward other denominations. On the bright side, Luther had a positive influence on the German language.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Schmidt
Lars Eidinger
The German actor is feted on stage as Richard III, and his portrayal of Russia's Czar Nikolaus II in the film "Matilda." A performance of Shakespeare's play in Istanbul was cancelled due to the political situation in Turkey, however — and the 41-year-old refrained from going to Russia for the film premiere due to threats. Instead, the multi-talented German released an album: "I'll Break Ya Legg."
Image: Picture alliance/dpa/G. Fische
Deniz Yücel
This journalist's fate probably served as a warning to the Berlin theater that cancelled its Istanbul performance. Yücel has been detained in Istanbul since February and stands accused of spreading "terrorist propaganda." The European Court of Human Rights has set a deadline for the Turkish government to give a statement on the case. Yücel has become a symbol Erdogan's authoritarianism in Turkey.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Schindler
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Spacey's star status a deterrent
However, Spacey's status at the Old Vic as a "cult personality" may have kept people from speaking up.
"The investigation found that his stardom and status at The Old Vic may have prevented people, and in particular junior staff or young actors, from feeling that they could speak up or raise a hand for help," according to the statement.
Spacey, who was artistic director at the Old Vic from 2004 to 2015, has faced a number of allegations of sexual harassment since the The New Yorker and The New York Times published stories about sexual harassment and abuse allegations against film mogul Harvey Weinstein earlier this year.
The revelations sparked a wave of abuse and harassment allegations against major stars in the film industry.