Kevin Spacey to pay $1m to 'House of Cards' producers settle sexual molestation contract breach

Kevin Spacey was riding high on popularity when, in October 2017, Anthony Rapp accused him of sexual molestation. The alleged incident reportedly took place in 1986, back when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. This emerged shortly after the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke out, sparking the #MeToo movement. Following more accusations against Spacey, the actor was swiftly dropped from his role as Frank Underwood in the cult Netflix series "House of Cards".

Considering the production's mammoth task to complete the planned sixth season without its main character, the production company MRC sought compensation for years. In November 2021, an arbitrator recommended Spacey pay $30 million to the producer of "House of Cards" due to a breach of contract concerning sexual molestation.

Since then, negotiations have been ongoing between the actor's lawyers and the company's representatives producing "House of Cards." According to Variety, a settlement was eventually reached, with Kevin Spacey agreeing to pay $1 million in damages. From another perspective, this could be seen as a significant setback instead of a satisfactory resolution, were it not for further stipulations.

The actor also agreed to disclose his medical records, submit to medical examinations, and testify during the production company's trial with the insurer. Through this, MRC aims to recoup the funds it had to unexpectedly fork out to finish the sixth season of "House of Cards" in line with a new direction.

It's worth noting that the final episode of the Netflix series features Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) in the US president's seat following her husband's demise. The "House of Cards" finale was a letdown for fans and critics.

The 64-year-old Kevin Spacey has been besieged with several allegations of sexual molestation in recent years. He won most of the legal battles (in some cases due to the statute of limitations) or reached settlements. The actor announced his commitment to restoring his reputation and resuming his acting career. Last October, he lectured on cancel culture at Oxford University and received a standing ovation.