“House of Cards” is ending after its upcoming sixth season, an announcement that comes a day after actor Anthony Rapp accused star Kevin Spacey of making a sexual advance toward him when Rapp was 14.
Netflix and Media Rights Capital, which produces the show, said in a statement Monday that they are “deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey.” Rapp, who appears on “Star Trek: Discovery,” said Spacey made the advance three decades ago. Spacey has apologized but said he does not remember the events Rapp described.
“In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported,” the companies said in a statement. “As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”
“House of Cards,” which centers on Spacey as diabolical politician Frank Underwood, launched Season 5 in May and is currently in production on the sixth season.
In an interview with BuzzFeed published Sunday, Rapp said that a then-26-year-old Spacey invited him to a party at Spacey’s apartment in 1986 and tried to “seduce” him by climbing on top of him in bed before Rapp was able to get away.
On Sunday night, Spacey tweeted, “I honestly do not remember the encounter … but if I did behave as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.”
Spacey also came out as gay in his response, leading GLAAD and others to accuse the two-time Oscar winner of using the coming-out to “deflect from allegations of sexual assault.”
“House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon said in a statement that Rapp’s story is “deeply troubling.”
The series has been one of Netflix’s flagship dramas since its February 2013 debut, and remains an awards-season magnet.
It picked up four Emmy nominations this year, with nods for best series, best actor (Spacey), best actress (Robin Wright) and best supporting actor (Michael Kelly). This marked Spacey’s fifth consecutive nomination in the category.