- Culture
- 01 Nov 17
The online streaming giants has now shut down production of 'House of Cards' midway through filming season six, as the house of cards literally come crumbling down in Kevin Spacey's private life.
Netflix had originally told yesterday that season six of 'House of Cards' would be its last every episodes.
Season six had been in the middle of production in Maryland and a 13-episode season was scheduled to air in mid-2018. But that is now all up in the air after Netflix made the dramatic decision to suspend filming until further notice.
Many Hollywood insiders now believe that the Oscar winner's glittering career is over after it was claimed he tried to force himself on a terrified young teenage boy, 'Star Trek: Discovery' actor Anthony Rapp, back in the 1980s.
Spacey is being heavily criticised for the wording of his public apology issued on Twitter and accused of trying to deflect from the claims made against him by coming out as a gay man.
Netflix's decision comes as Spacey is being heavily criticised for his bizarre attempt to blame the fact that he was drunk for the sordid "sexual advance" on such a young boy.
“MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on House of Cards season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew," declares a joint statement from Netflix and production company Media Rights Capital.
In the wake of disturbing historical sexual harassment allegations made against Kevin Spacey, the streaming giant had originally revealed yesterday that the upcoming sixth season of 'House of Cards would be its last episodes.
And they had also originally denied that the sordid allegations made against Kevin Spacey are the reason for the show's ending and claimed that it was a decision made "months ago". Though many felt it was a bizarre coincidence that the news was being made public now.
But they've now changed their tune and "suspended" production of the show. People are asking if season six will even see the light of day, or will Netflix wash their hands off it now instead before any more allegations come to light?
In a joint statement yesterday, the two production companies behind the hit show said they "are deeply troubled by last night's news concerning Kevin Spacey".
They also said: "In response to last night's revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported."
The show's creator Beau Willimon said: "Anthony Rapp's story is deeply troubling. During the time I worked with Kevin Spacey on House of Cards, I neither witnessed nor was aware of any inappropriate behavior on set or off.
"That said, I take reports of such behavior seriously and this is no exception. I feel for Mr. Rapp and I support his courage."
The controversy kicked off on Sunday when Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp publicly claimed that he was left "traumatised" when a drunken Kevin Spacey made inappropriate sexual advances to him when he was only a teenage boy back in the 1980s.
It prompted Kevin Spacey to take to Twitter on Monday morning Irish time to offer a public apology and, in the process, candidly discuss his own sexuality for the first time ever.
"I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years," Spacey wrote.
But the apology has spectacularly backfired on Spacey who is now not only being heavily criticised for the wording of his public apology issued on Twitter but also accused of trying to "deflect" from the claims made against him by his sudden decision to come out as a gay man.
As part of his apology yesterday morning, Spacey had said: "As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour."
Advertisement
Spacey is also being heavily criticised for his bizarre attempt to blame the fact that he was drunk for the sordid "sexual advance" on such a young boy.
Rapp had originally told about the scary episode with Spacey (without revealing his name) all the way back in 2001.
Rapp says he was inspired by all the women bravely coming forward about Harvey Weinstein to tell his own story.
He recounted how Spacey brought him to a nightclub when he was only 14-years-old and afterward invited him, along with others, back to his place.
"My impression when he came in the room was that he was drunk ... He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I don’t, like, squirm away initially, because I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then he lays down on top of me," he told BuzzFeed.
Rapp says that Spacey was trying to "seduce" him but he was able to "squirm" out of it and absconded.
Rapp said he was terrified by the experience, which he described as “a frozen moment ... In terms of fight or flight or freeze, I tend to freeze.
Advertisement
“As I opened the door to leave, he was leaning on the front door[frame]. And he was like, ‘Are you sure you wanna go?’ I said, ‘Yes, good night,’ and then I did leave,” Rapp said.
Rapp claims that that he would become distressed every time he spotted Spacey on the big screen because it brought on flashbacks of the night in question. He also said he dreaded the thought of having to ever work with Spacey.
Rapp said he considered taking legal action over the ordeal but was told by legal eagles that he didn't have a proverbial leg to stand on, as it would essentially be his word against another actor's.
"I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out, to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me," he said on social media after the interview went viral.