Kevin Spacey, the former star of “House of Cards,” appeared as a witness in a civil trial in California on Tuesday and admitted that he was officially diagnosed with “sexually compulsive behavior” in 2017 – after voluntarily entering an inpatient treatment program amid a wave of sexual misconduct allegations.
The diagnosis appeared in a final psychiatric report issued when Spacey was released from The Meadows treatment facility in Arizona on December 16, 2017. In a Santa Monica courtroom, Spacey was asked to read aloud part of the diagnostic summary.
“Other specified compulsive and related behaviors, sexually compulsive behavior, generalized anxiety disorder,” Spacey said, reading from a screen on the witness stand. When asked if he had “any medical basis to dispute the diagnoses,” he replied, “No.”
Spacey’s goals in rehab
Spacey further confirmed that his goal in The Meadows was to “address sexual behavior and boundaries.” However, as his testimony continued, he expressed frustration over notes in his medical records written by the two primary attending physicians. In a recording, a doctor noted that Spacey described “touching in public without permission” as one of his “problem behaviors.” Spacey denied telling doctors this.
“I can tell you that throughout the medical records there are statements attributed to me that I never made,” he said, raising his voice. He explained that the doctors’ progress notes contained obvious inaccuracies. “They think I have a British accent and a wife,” said the unmarried, openly gay actor. “They have 29 other men to look after. I have no idea how they take notes. I’m just saying, I didn’t say that because I didn’t do that.”
Spacey was called as a witness in a case in which the production company behind “House of Cards” is fighting its insurance company over a nine-figure damages claim – linked to the stopped filming of the series in 2017 and the resulting changes to season six. The production halt forced the award-winning series to scrap and rewrite what ultimately became its final season. When the allegations became public, the show was tailored entirely to Spacey’s character, President Frank Underwood.
The position of the insurance company
The defendant in the lawsuit, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, argued that its policy only covered losses resulting from a medically verified incapacitating illness. According to the company, Spacey was suspended because of the media fallout surrounding the allegations – not because of a qualifying medical condition. FFIC believes that production company Media Rights Capital put the show on hold on October 31, 2017 and Spacey simply never returned.
Spacey, 66, had been filming “House of Cards” on October 29, 2017, when BuzzFeed published an article in which actor Anthony Rapp claimed that Spacey sexually stalked him at a gathering at his apartment in 1986 – when Rapp was 14 years old. A few days later, CNN reported on allegations from eight anonymous members of the “House of Cards” cast who accused Spacey of “predatory” behavior, including alleged incidents in which he initiated a handshake and pulled the person’s hand toward his crotch.
In a 2022 civil trial in federal court in Manhattan, a jury found Spacey not liable for the sexual misconduct allegations made by Rapp. In 2023, he was acquitted in London of sexual assault charges relating to four men. An arbitrator later found Spacey liable to pay MRC $31 million. A three-judge appeals panel upheld the decision, after which Spacey entered into a settlement with MRC. As part of the deal, the payment was reduced from $31 million to $1 million because Spacey agreed to release his medical records and testify in the insurance lawsuit.
Spacey’s statement in court
Adam Zahl, an attorney for MRC, appeared focused Tuesday on convincing jurors that Spacey had a medical problem that persisted even after he was released from The Meadows. He began by asking why Spacey sought treatment.
“I went there to help myself. A number of things had just happened in my life and it felt like my life was falling apart,” Spacey testified. “So I went to take care of myself and ask questions. I don’t know if I knew at the time that I had a medical illness or condition, but I had a lot of questions.”
Zahl then asked Spacey to read another medical note. “The patient will answer to himself and others for the negative effects of his problematic sexual behavior,” the document said.
Spacey’s frustration with the files
“I continue to work on taking responsibility when I’ve done it wrong, but this is typical of the files – a lot of gibberish,” Spacey told the jury. “I don’t speak like that. And I don’t recognize it as something I might have said.”
Additional medical records listed goals such as improving Spacey’s “ability to moderate several addictive or problematic behaviors” and addressing “sexual behavior and boundaries.” Spacey again expressed frustration on the witness stand.
“It’s worded in a way that I don’t speak – so I don’t remember saying the specific thing,” he said. “I certainly think that boundaries are an important thing to be aware of. I recognize that. I didn’t always read the mood correctly.”
Before he entered treatment, Spacey said he found the allegations against him “terrifying,” even though he didn’t believe they were true. “I had to ask myself some serious questions,” he testified. “I was trying to figure out where I went wrong and whether I could make sure I never again put myself in a situation where someone would question my motives.”
Pending legal situation
MRC’s attorney then focused on a doctor’s note that claimed Spacey’s “pending legal status” had been “an impediment” to his “full engagement in accountability work” during his stay at The Meadows. The doctor wrote that Spacey “may benefit from a return to an inpatient level of care once his legal situation is largely resolved.”
Spacey testified that the only outstanding legal matter at the time was his dispute with MRC. He said there was still an open case against him in the UK, but added that the legal process had largely vindicated it.
“I am extremely glad that I had the opportunity to go into courtrooms, defend myself and be found not guilty,” he said. “You may not want to go through this, but if this is the place where you have the opportunity to defend yourself with fairness and due process, then I’m happy to be in court.”
Accusations and acquittals
Spacey also vehemently denied the allegations outlined in the CNN report, saying the eight anonymous accusers were not “credible.” He confirmed that he had told an MRC investigator that he had never touched crew members in a sexual manner.
When asked about the arbitration ruling, Spacey said he had been found to have “violated an MRC policy” – nothing more. Zahl responded that the arbitrator had found the witnesses who testified against Spacey to be credible.
“Not all of them. Five,” Spacey replied. He said the arbitrator simply found that the allegations were “more likely” to be true than untrue – a standard he called a “very low bar.”
“So in your opinion none of this happened because you didn’t misbehave on set?” Cipher asked rhetorically. “I think we now have a good picture of how this assumption of responsibility works,” the lawyer sneered.
Under questioning by Leon Gladstone, an attorney for FFIC, Spacey was asked about his long career, including his two Academy Awards and his work on Broadway. Gladstone then asked about previous testimony from a medical expert who had told the jury that sex addiction can be a fatal disease.
“Has a healthcare provider ever told you that you have a terminal illness?” Gladstone asked. Spacey said no and agreed that he was “feeling pretty good today.”
“Do you think, or have you ever thought, that you have a sex addiction?” Gladstone asked. Spacey said no again. The hearing was then adjourned for a break.
