Kevin Spacey is opening up about one of the most private chapters of his life as he continues attempting a Hollywood comeback. During a candid appearance on Bill Maher‘s “Club Random” podcast, the Oscar-winning actor reflected on being “fiercely closeted,” his years away from mainstream Hollywood, and why he believes public perception of him may finally be changing.
While discussing his personal life, Spacey admitted he spent years trying to keep his sexuality private. “I was fiercely closeted, I didn’t want anyone to know anything about me, and of course I thought I was so clever that no one knew,” he said on the podcast.
The actor acknowledged there had long been speculation about his sexuality but said he struggled with how those conversations played out publicly. “There was so many stories about me, there was lots of talk about that I was gay and I just wasn’t out and rather than the gay community understanding that,” he said. “I always felt that I was being attacked.”
The Actor Says He Feels Like He’s Emerging From A ‘Nine-Year Jail Sentence’
Spacey also spoke about his efforts to rebuild his career after years of controversy and legal battles. “I feel much more welcomed, and I think that things are moving in the direction that we hoped they were moving in,” he said.
Later in the conversation, Spacey suggested that the lengthy fallout from the allegations against him had become disproportionate. “I feel less in jail than I did,” the actor added. “When people actually start to hear the facts, understand what we won in courts, I think people now look at this and think, maybe nine years has been enough.”
He even compared his situation to a professional athlete serving a suspension, explaining, “If I had been a sports figure I would have been benched for seven games. If you’re hitting home runs, they want you on the field.”
Bill Maher Told Spacey He Had Already ‘Paid A Lot’
Maher largely agreed that Spacey had faced significant professional consequences over the past several years. While noting that he believed some punishment was warranted, the comedian argued that the actor had already paid a steep price through damage to his reputation and career.
The conversation also touched on accusations that surfaced beginning in 2017 and the resulting impact on Spacey’s standing in Hollywood. In 2023, he was acquitted of nine sex offense charges in a criminal trial in London after pleading not guilty.
Earlier this year, civil claims brought by three men in the United Kingdom were resolved through a confidential settlement agreement, with the terms remaining private. Throughout the various legal proceedings, Spacey has consistently denied wrongdoing.
“There are certain cases where part of something is true, but it’s been rethought, it’s been redesigned or it’s been entirely made up, certainly in the case of Anthony Rapp, which is a case that we won in federal court in New York,” Spacey told Maher before noting that he has won “in every court we’ve gone into with a jury.”
The Allegations Upended Kevin Spacey’s Hollywood Career
The fallout from the allegations against Spacey extended far beyond the courtroom and dramatically altered the trajectory of his career. In 2017, the actor was removed from Netflix’s hit political drama “House of Cards,” where he had starred as Frank Underwood for five seasons.
Around the same time, director Ridley Scott made the unprecedented decision to replace Spacey with the late Christopher Plummer in “All the Money in the World,” despite the film already having been completed. Plummer’s scenes were reshot just weeks before the movie’s release.
The professional setbacks were followed by financial struggles. In 2024, Spacey revealed that years of legal battles had left him facing significant financial hardship.
Kevin Spacey Says He’s Focused On Work And Finding Love
As for what’s next, Spacey said he is looking ahead rather than dwelling on the past. “I don’t have a steady boyfriend, but I’m in the market,” he joked.
The actor suggested that both his personal and professional lives are entering a new chapter as he continues pursuing acting opportunities following years largely spent outside the Hollywood spotlight.