Kevin Spacey is once again putting his personal life and career under the microscope. During a candid appearance on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, the Oscar-winning actor said living as a closeted gay man in Hollywood left him feeling alienated long before the sexual misconduct allegations that upended his career in 2017.
"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," Spacey told Maher.
According to the actor, the entertainment industry—and even members of the gay community—speculated about his sexuality for years: "There were 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… I always felt that I was being attacked."
The conversation quickly shifted to the allegations that transformed Spacey from one of Hollywood's most celebrated actors into one of its most polarizing figures. Maher didn't soften the question, telling Spacey, "When it gets to like you had, it's like, 'Come on man, there's too much smoke to be no fire.'"
Spacey acknowledged that parts of the criticism were true but rejected the broader narrative. "I never said there was no fire," he replied. "It just wasn't a raging forest fire. It was a small kitchen fire that could have been put out with an extinguisher."
Spacey also admitted, "I hit on a lot of guys," but insisted many accusations either distorted or completely invented events. Referencing Anthony Rapp's lawsuit—which ended with a jury finding him not liable—Spacey said, "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."
On the stand, he confirmed he voluntarily entered The Meadows treatment facility in Arizona in late 2017, where he was diagnosed with "sexual compulsive behavior" and generalized anxiety disorder.
He told jurors he sought treatment because "my life felt like it was collapsing," but maintained he does not believe he has a sex addiction and disputed portions of his medical records, arguing some statements attributed to him were inaccurate.
The legal landscape surrounding Spacey has shifted dramatically since the allegations first surfaced. He was cleared of criminal sexual assault charges in the U.K. in 2023 and found not liable in Anthony Rapp's U.S. civil lawsuit.
Asked whether enough time had passed for the public to reconsider him, Spacey suggested perceptions are beginning to change. After Maher remarked that "a 10-year sentence is a serious sentence," the actor replied, "I feel less in jail than I did. 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.'"
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. Contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for free, confidential support 24/7.
