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Kevin Spacey was also impressive at Cannes Film Festival. The actor was awarded the “Award for Excellence in Film and Television” at the “Better World Fund Gala” on the beach of the Carlton Hotel. In his speech, he went into how he stands for the Cancel Culture.
“It’s very nice to be back”
The two-time Oscar winner, whose career came to a standstill in a New York civil process by numerous allegations due to alleged sexual misconduct in 2022, was declared not liable in 2022 and acquitted a jury in London in 2023. Nevertheless, he has so far been avoided by large Hollywood productions and has been working on independently financed international film projects since then.
“It is very nice to be back,” said Spacey, according to “Deadline”, under applause on the red carpet. “I feel surrounded by so much affection and love. I have heard of so many friends, colleagues and co-stars since this price was announced.”
A price – and a political statement
In his acceptance speech, Spacey praised the gala founder Manuel Collas de la Roche for the courage to invite him: “Who would have thought that it was considered brave to honor someone who was acquitted in every courtroom he has ever entered? But here we are.”
According to “Deadline” Spacey then reminded of another time in Hollywood: the McCarthy era. At that time, filmmakers were put on a black list for alleged proximity to communism and they lost their jobs. The actor Kirk Douglas, who died in 2020, stood against it in 1960 by ensuring that the outlawed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was officially mentioned as the author of “Spartacus” (1960). Spacey quoted Douglas with the words: “It is easier for us actors to play heroes on the canvas. But in real life the decisions are not always so clear. There are moments when you have to stand for a principle.”
Douglas spoke these words at the age of 98, said Spacey. The “American Beauty” main actor also recalled the lesser-known faces of that time: “Many know the Hollywood 1, but hardly anyone knows of the other 475 filmmakers whose lives were destroyed by false accusations.”
Parallels to the present: criticism of the WGA
Subsequently, Spacey made the arch to the present-and criticized the union “Writers Guild of America” (WGA) for dealing with the screenwriter Tim Doyle (“The Big Bang Theory” 2007-2019) that was publicly crashed during the 2023 author strike because of a satirical social media post: ” sent, Tim has no work since then.
He quoted comedy author Rob Ulin, who initiated a campaign to support Doyles: “None of us should be part of an organization or industry that relies on black lists.” Then Spacey announced that the WGA officially withdrew the complaint against Doyle two weeks ago – and that this happened at the same time with his invitation to the gala in Cannes: “The story is repeated – but only if we allow it.”
Cannes and his guests
Kevin Spacey is not the only controversy star that makes headlines in Cannes. In the previous year, Shia Labouf’s appearance had triggered mixed reactions on the red carpet. The actor was sued by his ex-partner FKA Twigs in 2020 for physical and sexual attacks. Since it is an ongoing procedure, no legal judgment has so far been made. When he showed himself publicly at the Film Festival in Cannes in 2024, many spoke on the net of the “End of Cancel Culture”.
A user asked on X: “Is anyone in Cannes?” Another post was: “Why is Cannes obsessed with rehabilitation men who have been accused of abuse and sexual coercion?” It remains to be seen whether Spacey’s appearance in Cannes is actually a turning point for his career.