Liam Neeson, Sharon Stone & more defend Kevin Spacey within the wake of a current documentary, with Spacey himself weighing in through a brand new interview.

UPDATE: In his first mainstream tv interview in years (excerpted by THR), Kevin Spacey sat down with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation to handle what’s being seen as resistance (by some) to his return to appearing. While he acknowledges those that have supported him, equivalent to Neeson and Stone, he blames concern for the truth that many have solely reached out to him privately reasonably than publically. “But there are also people that I’ve spoken to who, they love me, they believe in me. They’ve stood with me in private… but they’re afraid to stand up. And I’ve been very fortunate that people have been honest with me about that. And I think that’s a shame, that we’ve come to a place as a society where people are afraid to say what they believe and what they feel because they’re afraid they’re going to get canceled too.”

Following the interview, Spacey posted the following on X: “Long time watcher, first time guest. It’s honor to join you on the other side of woke, Chris.”

ORIGINAL STORY: Since Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017, he’s been largely absent from the world of Hollywood past a handful of impartial films, however some consider that it’s time to welcome him again, together with Liam Neeson and Sharon Stone.

The two-part documentary Spacey Unmasked aired earlier this month and featured unheard testimonies from males about their experiences with the actor. In a press release to The Telegraph (through Variety), Liam Neeson mentioned that whereas he was “deeply saddened to learn of these accusations” in opposition to Kevin Spacey, he believes he ought to be allowed to return. “Kevin is a good man and a man of character,” Neeson mentioned. “He’s delicate, articulate and non-judgmental, with a terrific humorousness. He can be one in all our best artists within the theatre and on digital camera. Personally talking, our business wants him and misses him tremendously.“

Stone added, “I can’t wait to see Kevin again at work. He is a genius. He is so elegant and enjoyable, beneficiant to a fault and is aware of more about our craft than most of us ever will… It’s horrible that they’re blaming him for not with the ability to come to phrases with themselves for utilizing him and negotiating with themselves as a result of they didn’t get their secret agendas.“

Other actors who got here to Spacey’s defence embrace F. Murray Abraham, who was fired from Mythic Quest following his personal sexual misconduct accusations. Murray mentioned: “I vouch for him unequivocally. Who are these vultures who attack a man who has publicly accepted his responsibility for certain behavior, unlike so many others?…He is a fine man, I stand with him, and let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Stephen Fry additionally chimed in, expressing his distaste for the Spacey Unmasked documentary. “[To] bracket [Spacey] with the likes of Harvey Weinstein,” he mentioned, “To proceed to harass and hound him, to dedicate an entire documentary to accusations that merely don’t add as much as crimes… how can that be thought-about proportionate and justified?“

Fry added, “Surely it’s incorrect to proceed to batter a popularity on the power of assertion and rhetoric reasonably than proof and proof. Unless I’m lacking one thing, I believe he has paid the worth.“

Recently, director Paul Schrader (First Reformed) who’s at Cannes together with his new film Oh, Canada (starring Richard Gere) advised Variety that he needed to make use of him in a film about late interval Frank Sinatra. “Cancel culture won’t let him go,” he mentioned, including, “I would not use Kevin if he had been convicted. But he was not convicted.”

As for Spacey, he’s already come out in opposition to the documentary. In an interview with Dan Wootton, the actor mentioned, “I take full responsibility for my past behavior and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who’s made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me.” In a press release, Spacey added, “I’ve constantly denied — and now efficiently defended — quite a few allegations made each within the U.S. and the U.Okay., each legal and civil, and every time have been in a position to supply proof undermining the allegations and have been believed by a jury of my friends.“

What are your ideas? Should Kevin Spacey be capable to work in Hollywood once more?