In a fervent rebuttal, actor Kevin Spacey has vocally criticized Channel 4 for their forthcoming documentary titled “Spacey Unmasked,” which aims to delve into both his career and the various misconduct allegations that have been directed towards him in recent years. The two-part documentary is slated to air in the United Kingdom on May 6 and 7, and Spacey has taken to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, to air his grievances and defend his standpoint.
Expressing a strong disdain for what he perceives as a flagrant attack on his character, Spacey’s statement on Thursday read, “I will not sit back and be attacked by a dying network’s one-sided ‘documentary’ about me in their desperate attempt for ratings.” This critique comes following a milestone for Spacey, as he was acquitted in July 2023 of nine charges in a UK criminal case, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Though the documentary will initially premiere in the UK, arrangements have been made for it to broadcast on Max and Investigation Discovery, with the United States premiere dates yet to be disclosed. In what appears to be a battle of legitimacy, Spacey has dismissed the notion of Channel 4 being an appropriate venue to address the contentious moments of his past. He stated firmly, “There’s a proper channel to handle allegations against me and it’s not Channel 4. Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated,” underlining his status as an Oscar-winning artist.
The controversy surrounding Spacey flared up due to his trial in the UK, where he faced nine criminal charges brought forward by four men. The allegations painted a damning portrait, ranging from inappropriate touching to more severe accusations such as performing oral sex on a man while he was unconscious—a claim presented by one of the witnesses at trial, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter. These alleged incidents date back to the time frame between 2001 and 2013, coinciding with Spacey’s tenure as the artistic director of the prominent Old Vic Theatre in London, from 2004 to 2015.
Taking his defense to the public, Spacey has noted that Channel 4 failed to provide him with adequate time to formulate a response to the accusations featured in the documentary, despite his explicit requests for more information and extension of time beyond the mere seven days offered prior to the scheduled UK premieres. Despite these challenges, Spacey has expressed his intent to offer a comprehensive reply to the documentary’s assertions in the near future.
“Spacey Unmasked” positions itself as a landmark television event on Channel 4 in the UK, before it becomes accessible to American viewers and others abroad. The task of handling international distribution falls to All3Media International, while Warner Bros. Discovery has secured the rights for the documentary in the US and other territories. Under the stewardship of Katherine Haywood, who directs and produces the documentary, “Spacey Unmasked” boasts the expertise of executive producers Dorothy Byrne and Mike Lerner and is a collaborative project with Roast Beef Productions, the creative force behind the acclaimed “Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer,” and All3 Media International.
As the media and public alike await the documentary’s unveiling, the saga that envelops Kevin Spacey’s personal and professional life looks set to once again ignite discussions and debates across both the cinema industry and the wider cultural landscape.
