Joshua Lott/REUTERS
Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey is trying to get out of appearing in a Massachusetts court for his arraignment in the sexual-assault case against him, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Boston Globe first reported on Dec. 24 that Spacey was facing one felony count for allegedly sexually assaulting the teenage son of onetime Boston TV anchor Heather Unruh at a Nantucket bar in July 2016. Spacey’s arraignment was set for Jan. 7 in Nantucket district court. The Hollywood Reporter said Friday that Spacey’s lawyers filed paperwork asking to excuse him from being at the proceeding. The outlet learned of the request by obtaining prosecutors’ response filing. Nantucket prosecutors reportedly insist that Spacey, 59, must be present for his arraignment under criminal procedure rules.
Spacey posted a bizarre YouTube video to his long-dormant Twitter account after news of his criminal case broke, in which he appears to assume his House of Cards character, President Frank Underwood. Spacey’s character was killed off after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. “Of course, some believed everything and have just been waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all,” said Spacey in the clip. “They’re just dying to have me declare that everything said is true and that I got what I deserved...But you wouldn’t believe the worst without evidence, would you? You wouldn’t rush to judgment without facts, would you? … Did you?”