Sharon Stone and Liam Neeson hit with huge backlash over Kevin Spacey praise-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

Kevin Spacey’s Hollywood friends have spoken out in support of him (Picture: Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage)

In a controversial statement, Liam Neeson and Sharon Stone expressed support for Kevin Spacey after allegations of sexual abuse.

Last year, the House of Cards actor was acquitted of the 12 sexual offences alleged by four men between 2001 and 2013.

One civil case was brought against him by Rent star Anthony Rapp who alleged Spacey had molested him when he was 14. Spacey won the case in October 2022.

A recent documentary from Channel 4, Spacey Unmasked, reignited the speculation after airing new testimony from 10 further alleged victims over incidents in the late 70s.

The 64-year-old actor has largely been dropped from mainstream Hollywood and — despite being cleared in courts — has been unable to find work since.

Now Neeson and Stone have spoken out in support of Spacey and in doing so deeply angered fans who are ‘disappointed’ in their stance.

Sharon Stone said Spacey is a ‘genius’ and ‘generous to a fault’ (Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP)

Liam Neeson said he wants to see Spacey acting again (Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images)

‘I can’t wait to see Kevin back at work. He is a genius. He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will,’ the Basic Instinct star said.

She added to the Telegraph: ‘It’s terrible that they are blaming him for not being able to come to terms with themselves for using him and negotiating with themselves because they didn’t get their secret agendas.’

Neeson seconded: ‘I was deeply saddened to learn of these accusations against him. Kevin is a good man and a man of character. He’s sensitive, articulate and non-judgmental, with a terrific sense of humour.

‘He is also one of our finest artists in the theatre and on camera. Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly.’

The Taken star has been lambasted online for saying Spacey is a ‘good man’ as a tweet went viral quoting the interview.

He was accused by 10 further alleged victims in a documentary (Credits: EPA)

Spacey was acquitted of 12 previous counts and one civil case (Picture: David Appleby/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Liam Neeson has a particular set of skills, and they are all saying horrible s**t in interviews,’ wrote John Elrod on X.

‘Y’know I’m getting a bit f**king sick of Liam Neeson,’ scathed Desiree Middlebrook as Saydoh added: ‘The worst thing about the internet is finding out celebrities you liked are pieces of s**t.’

‘There are statements from men who claim to have been abused by Kevin, at a time when everyone knows what Hollywood was like,’ Javier Caravante wrote. ‘Coming out with a statement like that and calling him a “good man” is despicable.’

Some did point out he had been acquitted but that Neeson’s decision to back the blacklisted star was unwise.

Matt Jarbo wrote: ‘That is definitely a bold take. Legally speaking Kevin Spacey is innocent. Societally speaking he’s cooked.

‘However it does take one good performance from him that blows everybody away for him to come back. Because that’s just how Hollywood operates.’

Fans criticised Stone and Neeson for supporting him (Picture: Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Spacey addressed the accusations, which he has always strongly denied, in a rare interview with Dan Wootton earlier this month as the documentary aired.

The Usual Suspects star said: ‘I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologise to anyone who’s made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me.

‘I’ve never told someone that if they give me sexual favours, then I will help them out with their career, never. I’ve clearly hooked up with some men who thought they might get ahead in their careers by having a relationship with me.

‘But there was no conversation with me, it was all part of their plan, a plan that was always destined to fail, because I wasn’t in on the deal.’

Spacey went on to deny any accusations of illegal behaviour, adding: ‘Were there times when I would flirt with some of the people who were involved in those programmes who were in their 20s? Yes.

‘Did I ever hook up with another actor? Yes. Did I make a clumsy pass at someone who wasn’t interested as it turned out? Yes.’

He continued: ‘That may not have been the best decision and it is not one that I would do today, but it happened. It wasn’t illegal, and nor has it ever been alleged to have been illegal.’

The Telegraph article also saw support from F Murray Abraham, Sir Trevor Nunn, and Stephen Fry who called the documentary an ‘attack’.

Producer and filmmaker Katherine Haywood who made Spacey Unmasked insisted to Metro.co.uk she wanted to keep the documentary as balanced and fair as possible.

‘There are no monsters and there are no saints,’ she shared. ‘Everybody’s a mix of everything.’

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