Kevin Spacey stirred a controversy with his scheduled appearance at the Mad Monster Party, a North Carolina comic book convention set for February 16-18, 2024. This event marks Spacey’s first major public engagement since his career was overshadowed by allegations of sexual misconduct in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
Mad Monster Party announced Spacey’s participation in the convention on Instagram with a video of the actor updating his fans. The post read:
“Meet Kevin Spacey at his FIRST-EVER Convention Appearance at Mad Monster Party 2024! Feb 16th-18th, 2024 – Carolina’s Premier Pop-Culture & Horror Convention. Mad Monster is excited to welcome Two-Time Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey (‘Se7en,’ ‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘American Beauty,’ ‘House of Cards’). Kevin will be joining us all 3 days, and he does NOT offer table selfies. We will be offering ‘House of Cards,’ ‘The Usual Suspects’ ‘Line Up,’ and ‘Se7en’ ‘What’s in the Box?’ Pro Photo-Ops. Photo Ops are on sale NOW!”
However, this announcement resulted in a wave of criticism from fans and the public, so they had to close the post for the comments.
How Did Fans React?
Although the organizers were enthusiastic about having the actor on board, the horror movie convention, which celebrates sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres, saw some fans expressing their reluctance to share the venue with Spacey:
“It was the one con I never missed. Their decision to bring in Kevin Spacey, delete all comments objecting, and block those seeking refunds breaks my heart. So long.”
The decision to feature Spacey at the convention is another instance where controversial figures, such as Edward Furlong and John Schneider, have been given a place at such events. It’s reported that both of these names faced their own legal and public image challenges.
This planned appearance at the Mad Monster Party is a step for Spacey to resume public activities. However, the reaction on social media platforms, especially on Twitter, has been generally negative, with users expressing disappointment and some calling for a boycott of the event.
What Was Spacey Accused Of?
Spacey faced a severe backlash starting in 2017 following multiple accusations of sexual misconduct involving young men. His professional life took a hit as Netflix terminated his role in ‘House of Cards,’ and director Ridley Scott replaced him with Christopher Plummer in ‘All the Money in the World.’
Despite these setbacks, including a series of legal challenges, Spacey was acquitted of sexual assault charges in the U.K. in July 2023.
Spacey’s attempt to reconnect with the public at this event follows his limited public appearances in recent years, like a series of holiday videos where he’s seen reprising his ‘House of Cards’ character, Frank Underwood. Moreover, in October 2023, Spacey returned to the stage with a Shakespeare performance in Oxford, receiving a standing ovation.
Spacey also has an upcoming role in ‘Peter Five Eight,‘ which is set for release in March 2024.
