In response to an allegation that he made an unwanted sexual advance to a 14-year-old when he was 26, Kevin Spacey came out as gay.
It’s hard to see the connection. Spacey wasn’t accused of being gay, he was accused of behavior that’s wrong no matter his gender or sexuality.
At best, his coming out is an intentional distraction from Anthony Rapp’s story. At worst, he’s implying that he can’t help himself: fondling teens is just something that gay men do, perpetuating the myth that LGBTQ people are all child molesters.
People on Twitter were quick to point out that this isn’t right.
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Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017
Well done Kev. You stay silent on your sexuality until the time comes when you can conflate it with an alleged sexual assault on a minor.
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) October 30, 2017
Bye bye, Spacey goodbye, it’s your turn to cry, that’s why we’ve gotta say goodbye. #ROSEARMY
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 30, 2017
No no no no no! You do not get to “choose” to hide under the rainbow! Kick rocks! https://t.co/xJDGAxDjxz
— Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) October 30, 2017
Nope to Kevin Spacey's statement. Nope. There's no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017
Anthony Rapp: "Kevin Spacey tried to rape me."
Media: "Kevin how do you respond?"
Spacey: "uuh…uuhh… Hey everyone I'm gay!" pic.twitter.com/6LAEfsyRtF
— Travon Free (@Travon) October 30, 2017
F**k you Kevin Spacey. Nice work in playing into the homophobes’ playbook – equating being gay with an interest in 14 year olds. Sick f**k.
— Iain Dale (@IainDale) October 30, 2017
Good morning to everyone except Kevin Spacey, who has thrown the gay community spectacularly under the bus to distract from his own badness.
— Fiona Longmuir ? (@EscapologistFi) October 30, 2017
Oh wow. Kevin Spacey deflecting from attempting to molest a child by coming out as gay is the absolute pits.
— Owen Jones? (@OwenJones84) October 30, 2017
hello kevin spacey, "i was drunk and gay" is an excuse for like, table-dancing to britney spears, not attempted paedophilia
— Gov. Scary Johnson (@neoliberals) October 30, 2017
(Kevin Spacey beats a man to death with an accordion)
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. They’re true. I am indeed an accordion player.”
— Jason Steele (@FilmCow) October 30, 2017
This tweet sums up the mood:
The LGBTQ community @ Kevin Spacey today pic.twitter.com/FD8zki85bE
— jess but spoopier (@jesswithsleeves) October 30, 2017
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