Rosie O’Donnell attacks Kevin Spacey after explosive allegation against House of Cards star

Several big names in Hollywood are speaking out after Kevin Spacey’s controversial apology to an actor who alleged he had sexually assaulted him as a teenager.

After actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey had sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager, the House of Cards star released a statement saying that he did not remember the incident, but that he was “beyond horrified to hear his story”.

“If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology,” Spacey wrote. “This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. […] I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.”

But, prominent players in Hollywood were not willing to let Spacey off the hook so quickly.

Rosie O’Donnell took Spacey to task, comparing him to now-disgraced Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment or assault by dozens of women in recent weeks. When O’Donnell was questioned by another user, who wondered why she never said anything if Spacey’s alleged infractions were an open secret, she said that nobody knew the details of the case.

Weinstein denies any non-consensual acts, and has called other allegations “false”.

Other Hollywood elite also chimed in, saying that Spacey can’t just hide behind his sexuality to get away from sexual assault allegations. Others said that it was unfortunate that Spacey had decided to come out as gay only after such a potentially damaging allegation, and wondered if Spacey were trying to use his sexuality as a foil.

“No no no no no!” Comedian Wanda Sykes wrote. “You do not get to ‘choose’ to hide under the rainbow! Kick rocks!”

“I am sorry to hear of Anthony Rapp’s experience and subsequent sufering,” actor Zachary Quinto a “Star Trek” actor like Rapp, said. “And I am sorry that Kevin only saw fit to acknowledge his truth when he thought it was serve him — just as his denial served him for so many years.”

Rapp alleged that Spacey made inappropriate advances on him in 1986, when they were both starring in hit Broadway plays. Spacey, then 26, invited Rapp, then 14, to a party in his Manhattan party. Rapp alleged that he was the only teen at the party, and spent most of the party watching television in Spacey’s bedroom, until he said he realized he was all alone with Spacey.

Rapp told Buzzfeed that he was then picked up by Spacey and carried to his bed. There, he said, he knew Spacey was trying to get with him sexually.