Film Festival Cannes: Kevin Spacey speaks against Cancel Culture

Kevin Spacey was honored with a prize for his life’s work on the edge of the film festival in Cannes and spoke out in a thank -you speech against Cancel Culture. “Who would have ever thought that it was a brave idea to honor someone who has been relieved in every single courtroom he has ever entered,” said the 65-year-old.

Cancel Culture describes the public outer or boycotting of people who are accused of misconduct. Spacey’s career had faltered after allegations of sexual attacks, and since then he has not played larger roles. He was ultimately acquitted several times.

“It is very nice to be back,” he said on the sidelines of the event. When asked whether the award meant a comeback for him, he said: “Well, I’m glad I am working again. I can tell you that.”

Spacey: have to learn from history

In his speech, Spacey addressed cases in which people were wrongly “canceled”. For example, the American screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was on the “Hollywood Blacklist” in the 1940s and 1950s, which prohibited the work with artists who were said to be close to communism.

“There are times when you have to stand up for principles,” said Spacey. “I learned a lot from history. It repeats itself very often. The” black list “was a terrible time in our industry, but we have to learn from it so that something like this never happens again.”

No work in Hollywood

Spacey was honored by the Better World Fund organization. Some media described the award as one of the greatest “descanceling” of the celebrity world. But in Hollywood or larger films, the two-time Oscar winner (“American Beauty”, “The usual suspects”) has not yet been hired.

The 65-year-old markets the thriller “The Awakening” on the film market in Cannes, in which he plays along. It is a smaller production and the first film that Spacey made in London after his acquittal in 2023. Previously, he had already worked in some smaller films.

2022 and 2023 acquitted

Several men have accused Spacey sexual attacks in recent years. The allegations by the actor Anthony Rapp against the actor, which was first reproduced in 2017 in the course of the Metoo debate for the first time, had resulted in further allegations.

Spacey denied the allegations and a New York jury said the Star 2022. Other lawsuits were withdrawn or rejected due to limitation. In 2023 there was also an acquittal for Spacey in a trial in front of a London court in which four men had accused him of sexual assault.