In the opening statements of Kevin Spacey's criminal trial, prosecutors characterized the 63-year-old actor as a "sexual bully" who disregards personal boundaries. Spacey faces charges of sexual assault, indecent assault, and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, based on allegations from four men.

The prosecution asserted that Spacey's typical method of assault involved aggressively grabbing men in the crotch. Spacey's defense attorney, Patrick Gibbs, countered these claims, stating that Spacey denies all allegations of non-consensual acts. Gibbs urged the jury to question the alleged victims' motives and suggested they might be opportunists, particularly given Spacey's public coming out in 2020.

The alleged incidents occurred during Spacey's tenure as artistic director at London's Old Vic Theater. The four alleged victims, who are not acquainted with one another, share similar accounts of being groped by the actor. In his police statement, Spacey denied any non-consensual actions, suggesting any physical contact may have been a "clumsy pass" and implying some accusers might be seeking financial gain.

A jury comprising nine men and five women, including two alternates, will determine Spacey's fate in the four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. Spacey, who maintains residences in both London and the U.S., is currently out on bail.

These allegations follow earlier accusations of sexual misconduct against Spacey, notably a 2017 claim by actor Anthony Rapp, who alleged Spacey assaulted him at a party in the 1980s. Spacey was found not liable in the civil case brought by Rapp. Subsequent to Rapp’s accusation, more men came forward with allegations, leading to Spacey's removal from the Netflix series "House of Cards."

Despite the allegations, Spacey has returned to acting with roles in "The Man Who Drew God," "Once Upon a Time in Croatia," and "Peter Five Eight." He has expressed confidence in his future career prospects, stating in a recent interview that he anticipates being hired again once cleared of these charges.