Sir Ian McKellen calls Kevin Spacey ‘distasteful’ for staying in the closet
The 78-year-old made an appearance on BBC Radio 4 this week
Actor and gay activist Ian McKellen has called Kevin Spacey “distasteful” for staying in the closet.
The X-Men star made an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this week and was asked about Kevin Spacey, who came out following numerous accusations of sexual assault.
During the interview, the 78-year-old was asked whether the House Of Cards star should be able to act again following the allegations.
McKellen replied: “You’re asking me if I believe in redemption? Yes, I believe in redemption, of course.”
“I wouldn’t like to comment on that case because there have been many accusations but they’ve not really been gone into or understood.”
He continued: “The one thing I would say about Mr Spacey is that he was a gay man and he was pretending not to be.
“I always thought it a bit distasteful that such a person could come to our country – where the National Theatre at the time was being run by a gay man, and the Royal Shakespeare by another – that we should have a closeted gay man at the centre of British theatre.”
McKellen previously worked alongside Spacey during his time as artistic director at the Old Vic theatre in London.
The award winner came out as gay after Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp claimed he had been sexually assaulted at the age of 14. Soon after, Spacey was flooded with assault allegations from various men as well as members of the House Of Cards production team.