Following allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, Netflix has taken the decision to sever all ties with actor-producer, Kevin Spacey.
A statement released by the streaming service on Friday night said, “Netflix will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey; we will continue to work with Media Rights Capital (MRC) during this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the show.”
“We have also decided we will not be moving forward with the release of the film Gore, which was in post-production, starring and produced by Kevin Spacey.”
“Gore” was a biopic of writer Gore Vidal staring Spacey that had recently wrapped shooting.
MRC, the production company behind “House of Cards,” also confirmed that Spacey is off the show.
“While we continue the ongoing investigation into the serious allegations concerning Kevin Spacey’s behaviour on the set of House of Cards, he has been suspended, effective immediately,” MRC said in a statement. “MRC, in partnership with Netflix, will continue to evaluate a creative path forward for the program during the hiatus.”
Spacey has been accused by several men — including many who were underage at the time — of sexual harassment and assault. CNN reported that eight current or former House of Cards workers claim that Spacey made the production a “toxic” workplace and one ex-employee alleges the actor sexually assaulted him.
Spacey has not yet been arrested or charged with any crime. Representatives for the actor recently said that Spacey will “seek evaluation and treatment” following the series of sexual misconduct allegations against him. Spacey’s agency and publicist have reportedly dropped the actor.
Netflix had previously halted production on “House of Cards” and announced that the upcoming season, its sixth, would be its last.
Producers were also reportedly talking about killing off Spacey’s character, Frank Underwood.
Spacey is the latest high profile Hollywood figure to lose work and standing in a wave of sexual harassment that began when dozens of sexual harassment allegations were reported last month against film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
