Mexican actor Robert Cavazos accused House of Cards star Kevin Spacey of harassment. In a lengthy Facebook post, the 35-year-old actor wrote about his encounter with Spacey at the bar of London’s Old Vic Theatre, where the latter was artistic director from 2004 to 2015.
"I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being called harassment. Moreover, had I been a woman, I probably would not have hesitated to identify him as such, but I suppose that the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as "one of those things". There are many of us who have a "Kevin Spacey story," Cavazos said in the post.
“It was more common for this guy, when he was in the bar of his theater, grabbing whoever caught his attention,” Cavazos said. "I didn’t stand for it, but I know some people who were afraid to stop it,” he added.
“Those of us who crossed paths with (Spacey) in London when he was director of the Old Vic know a whole lot more people will find the courage to tell their stories in the coming days and weeks,” Cavazos said.
Comparing the Oscar-winning actor to Harvey Weinstein, Cavazos said that he would not be surprised if his victims were in similar numbers to the disgraced media mogul. He said like the producer, the 58-year-old actor also has a pattern of orchestrating his move, targeting especially "a male under 30".
"What these men have in common, aside from their reprehensible actions, is a network of friends, colleagues and collaborators who have been helping them to cover up their behavior for years," he said.
“It seems the only requirement was to be a male under the age of 30 for Mr Spacey to feel free to touch us,” he said in the post.
Cavazos's filmography includes Rush and El Beso. He has also made a guest appearance on the British TV series Doctor Who.
Meanwhile, the Old Vic responded to recent media reports by issuing a media statement.
“The Old Vic would like to respond to recent media reports by making it clear that we are deeply dismayed to hear the allegations levied against Kevin Spacey, who was Artistic Director from 2004–2015,” the theatre said in a statement.
“We want our employees to feel confident, valued and proud to be part of The Old Vic family. Any behaviour we become aware of which contravenes these goals will not be tolerated,” it added.
Spacey has not responded to the recent allegations.
The new allegations against Spacey come two days after Sar Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp accused the actor of making an unwanted sexual advance towards him when he was 14-years-old.
Soon after Rapp's revelation, Spacey apologised to Rapp saying that he "does not remember" any such encounter but he is "sorry" if he behaved in such a manner under the influence of alcohol.
"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I'm beyond horrified to hear his story," Spacey posted on Twitter.
Also Read: Accused of sexual misconduct, Kevin Spacey apologises
Meanwhile, on Monday the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences withdrew an honour scheduled to be conferred on him.
"The International Academy has announced that in light of recent events it will not honour Kevin Spacey with the 2017 International Emmy Founders Award," the Academy announced on Twitter.
Also, Media Rights Capital and Netflix, who produce House of Cards said it was ending House of Cards at the conclusion of its upcoming sixth season.
Also Read: Kevin Spacey's Emmy revoked, 'House of Cards' cancelled
Find below the full translation of Robert Cavazos's facebook post:
SPACEY, WEINSTEIN AND THE ENDEMIC HARASSMENT WE DO NOT TALK IN MEXICAN THEATER
Harvey Weinstein. Kevin Spacey Max Stafford-Clark.
A few days or weeks ago they were among the most important men in film and theater in Hollywood, London and the world. Now they are among the most notorious names in scandals of sexual harassment (and in some cases rape) within our environment.
Weinstein is accused of harassing more than 80 women and raping four of them over 4 decades. It is anticipated that these figures will continue to grow. In his public apology he quoted Jay Z and swore that he will seek help to cure him of his problems, which will not erase the trauma, shame and guilt that the 80 women who accuse him and the probable dozens who chose not to have do what.
Spacey is accused of harassing a 14-year-old boy when he was 26. Those of us who met him in London when he was director of the Old Vic Theater know that many more will be those who dare to tell their stories in the next days and weeks. I would not be surprised if they were numbers similar to Weinstein's. In his public apology he said he did not remember the incident, he apologized to the actor who accused him and took the opportunity to leave the closet, thus distracting the public from his harmful actions.
Max Stafford-Clark, with its Joint Stock and Out of Joint companies, radically changed British theater in the 70s. Now, like Weinstein, he has been fired from his own company for his actions. Three employees accused him of telling them inappropriate things (he could not do anything because of his physical condition). His PR attributes Stafford-Clark's comments to the stroke he suffered a few years ago. Her problem is that now more accusations of women have arisen that happened (in some cases) twenty years before her spill.
What these men have in common, aside from their reprehensible actions, is a network of friends, colleagues and collaborators who have been helping them to cover up their behavior for years. This type of men could not do what they did had it not been for all those who left them alone with their victims or justified them or made themselves misunderstood.
I myself had a couple of unpleasant encounters with Spacey that were on the edge of being called harassment. Moreover, had I been a woman, I probably would not have hesitated to identify him as such, but I suppose that the lack of a more specifically direct or aggressive action led me to justify the incident as "one of those things". There are many of us who have a "Kevin Spacey story". It seems that it only took a male under 30 to make Mr. Spacey feel free to touch us. It was so common that it even became a local joke (in very bad taste). I do not remember how many people told me the same story: Spacey invited them to meet him to "talk about their careers." When they arrived at the theater, the gentleman had prepared a picnic with champagne on the stage, beautifully lit. Each story varied in how far the picnic came, but the technique was the same. More common was that the man was in the bar of his theater, squeezing whoever caught his attention. That's how it happened to me the second time. I never left, but I know of some who were afraid to put a stop to it.
In London, Spacey's case was frowned upon. I do not doubt there were more like him, but none so public and blatant. In the middle this behavior was reproached for its total lack of professionalism, without mentioning the questionable morality.
That's why it was a huge surprise for me to arrive in Mexico and find myself with the reality that this type of behavior is not only common, but sometimes even applauded. The frequency with which I learn that the alleged "sacred cows" of Mexican theater behave the same or worse than Spacey or Weinstein. That it seems perfectly valid to ask their actresses how their sex life is going or openly play their students in front of the rest of the class, ask them to get undressed in the admission exams to one of the most respected theater schools in the country.
I have a lot of colleagues in Mexican theater who have gone through one of those situations. Sometimes all Among our colleagues there are revered directors whose nicknames are variants of their surnames making direct reference to their predilection for promiscuity or harassment and yet others dismiss the seriousness of their actions with comments like these:
"It's a Don Juan."
"The little boys do not complain."
"Those little chavitas are looking for him."
I think that by now we all understand that sexual harassment is not easy for victims to process. Some do not recognize it as such until decades after having suffered it. However, we all understand that none of the actions we justify or allow as part of the artistic process would be considered appropriate or correct in any other way. I do not understand why this would be different in the theater, in the cinema, on television.
When the case of Felipe Oliva Alvarado arose, I swore that I would be the first of many in the theater community in Mexico. Apparently I was wrong, since none of the figures alluded to in these paragraphs changed their behavior in the least. Our young colleagues continue to be harassed, abused and harmed by their teachers and principals, the figures they should be able to trust.
Obviously it is necessary that the same victims are those who raise their voices and raise complaints, but there is much that we can do others and we should have been doing for a long time. If we are witnesses, let's confront. If we are friends, let's listen. If we are participants, let's give up.
This kind of predator can only continue acting as long as we allow it. By not doing or saying anything about it, we are also accomplices.
Finally, only this message remains for the victims:
I believe you. I hear you. I support you.
