American actor Kevin Spacey, who is facing off against Anthony Rapp in a USD 40 million civil lawsuit, has spoken about his struggle to publically come out as gay due to his father's racist, homophobic and antisemitic views.
According to Variety, the admission from Spacey came on the witness stand of Rapp's lawsuit trial in New York City on Monday. Rapp claims Spacey made unwanted sexual advances against him in 1986 when he was 14 years old.
In his own testimony, Rapp accused Spacey of being a fraud for not being openly gay.
"To call someone a fraud is to say someone is living a lie. I wasn't living a lie. I was just reluctant to talk about my personal life," Spacey said, reported Variety.
As per the outlet, Spacey said his family moved around a lot because his father was frequently unemployed when he was growing up. The actor said he was "terrified" as a child and was "forced to listen" to his father's racist and bigoted lectures, which prevented him from bringing friends to the house.
He stated when he told his father that about wanting to be an actor, he was told "don't be an f-word." Spacey said, "I won't say it here because it's derogatory. I certainly had a degree of shame."
Spacey said he wanted to become a performer because he loved making his mother, Kathleen, laugh and because she instilled a love of movies in her son.
Before Spacey's career imploded because of Rapp's sexual assault accusations against him in a 2017 BuzzFeed article and other accusers making similar allegations against him, he was one of Hollywood's most acclaimed actors, winning Oscars for his work in 'The Usual Suspects' and 'American Beauty' and starring in the Netflix series 'House of Cards'.
Meanwhile, Spacey's legal team scored a significant victory before the actor ever took the stand.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan dismissed emotional distress charges against Spacey, who now only faces battery charges. "I'm not looking to duplicate damages," Kaplan said, as per Variety.
(ANI)
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.