Kevin Spacey Sorry For Alleged Sexual Assault On Teen

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Kevin Spacey issued a public apology to "Star Trek: Discovery" actor Anthony Rapp, who accused the “House of Cards” star of attempting to molest him in 19986 when Rapp was just 14. Spacey, who was 26 at the time of the alleged incident, said he has no recollection of it, but he apologized anyway and also came out as a gay man.

Rapp, 46, went public with his allegation in a BuzzFeed article Sunday night, acknowledging that he was inspired to share his story by the women who shared their stories of sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein. The article described an encounter with Spacey that occurred when Rapp was a teen working on Broadway in New York.

Rapp said he went into the bedroom and spent the evening watching TV after a party at Spacey's apartment. Then Spacey came in. "He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold," he told Buzzfeed. "But I don't, like, squirm away initially, because I'm like, 'What's going on?' And then he lays down on top of me.

"He was trying to seduce me," said Rapp. "... I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually."

Rapp said he has wrestled with the events of that night for decades.

Watch: Kevin Spacey Responds To Harassment Allegations

Spacey responded to Rapp's allegations on Twitter less than three hours after Rapp's story appeared online.

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I'm beyond horrified to hear his story," he said.

He said he does not remember the encounter, which would have occurred more than 30 years ago.

"But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years."

Spacey then revealed he is gay, saying he chooses "now to live as a gay man."

"This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. I know that there are stories out there about me and that some have been fueled by the fact that I have been so protective of my privacy. As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man. I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behavior."

Rapp did not publicly respond to Spacey’s statement. Instead he tweeted, “I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out, to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me.”

Reactions on Twitter were hostile toward Spacey, as reflected in a tweet from gay author Dan Savage.

"Nope to Kevin Spacey's statement. Nope. There's no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child," Savage tweeted.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.

Photos: Kevin Spacey presents the award for excellence in television at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Anthony Rapp, cast member in "Star Trek: Discovery," poses at the premiere of the new television series in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)