Spacey is a “guest of honor” at the ongoing Golden Apricot International Film Festival (GAIFF). He was awarded a special prize during its opening ceremony held on Sunday.
The Hollywood star’s visit sponsored by the Yerevan municipality prompted protests from some Armenian activists pointing to sexual assault allegations that were first publicly made against him in 2017.
Spacey became one of several prominent names in the Western entertainment industry to face such allegations during the #MeToo movement. He has not appeared in film or on stage since then.
The organizers of GAIFF defended their decision to invite and honor Spacey, arguing that last year a London court acquitted the actor of sexual assault charges brought against him in Britain in 2022. Their website refers to him as “one of the greatest artists of both stage and screen not only of his generation, but, according to many, of all times.”
The festival director, Karen Avetisian, criticized at the weekend the American University of Armenia (AUA) for cancelling Spacey’s meeting with students and film fans that was due to take place at its premises. The AUA administration did not publicly explain the last-minute decision. Avetisian accused it of bowing to “pressure from various kinds of NGOs.”
The meeting was moved to Yerevan’s Cinema House. Hundreds of people packed its big cinema hall on the occasion.
“It means a lot to me that you are here,” Spacey told them.
He spent more than an hour talking about his spectacular career and answering questions from the audience mostly relating to cinema and theater.
Only one participant, a young woman, alluded to the sexual misconduct claims by telling Spacey about the AUA snub. Her statement sparked a chorus of disapproval from the audience.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Spacey said, trying to calm his admirers.
“No controversy, I know nothing about it. I came here to do what I came to do,” he added, to rapturous applause.
Meanwhile, a small group of activists protested outside the Cinema House. As one of them said, “Inviting a person embroiled in such scandals as a guest of honor is not OK with me.”