Production on The Usual Suspects was paused because of “allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior” against co-star Kevin Spacey, according to Gabriel Byrne.

Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp came out shortly after Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct over the span of decades, alleging that Kevin Spacey made sexual approaches to him when he was 14 years old in 1986. Rapp was the first, but now a slew of other men have come forward to relate similar stories about Kevin Spacey, from England to the United States, primarily from when they were younger.

Following the tsunami of claims against him, Spacey was dismissed from the Netflix series “House of Cards” and abandoned by his agency and publicist in November.

“I did not know honestly then the extent of his violence,” the Golden Globe-winning actor says of Spacey in an interview with The Sunday Times. “I mean, he was kind of a joke in that people would say, ‘That’s Kevin,’ but nobody really understood the depth of his predations. It was only years later that we began to understand that [filming] was closed down for a particular reason and that was because of inappropriate sexual behavior by Spacey.”

Kevin Spacey’s career was changed forever by The Usual Suspects. The actor went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Roger “Verbal” Kint in the film, which set him up for Se7en, American Beauty, and the future. After Anthony Rapp came out, Spacey issued a contentious apology to the actor while also revealing his sexual orientation, which didn’t sit well with anyone. Since then, the actor has checked himself into a facility for therapy and rehabilitation.

In the interview, Byrne also mentioned working with Harvey Weinstein, the infamous Hollywood producer who is currently facing various sexual harassment charges.

“I did three movies with Harvey Weinstein, and I knew he was a sleaze-bag. I knew he was a vile bully and I saw his bullying up close. I saw him be absolutely appalling, not just to women but to men as well. He had very little respect for any kind of human being. He wanted his stars around him,” Byrne said.

Byrne worked with Weinstein on the 1991 picture Into The West, and the experience has since been ruined for him as he discovered Weinstein sexually harassing his then-assistant Laura Madden while filming.

After many claims against Spacey surfaced in the 1980s, the actor was replaced in the upcoming Ridley Scott picture All the Money in the World with Christopher Plummer.

Following Rapp’s revelation, the ‘House of Cards’ star apologized and revealed his sexual orientation, saying he does not recall the encounter and that it “would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour.”

Spacey’s response to the allegations was widely criticized. In his initial statement, he chose to use the opportunity to publicly come out as gay, which many saw as an attempt to deflect from the allegations and shift the focus onto his sexuality. This decision was met with backlash from members of the LGBTQ+ community, who argued that Spacey’s coming out was being used as a PR stunt and did not address the serious allegations against him.

It’s also worth noting that the actor’s conduct was well-known in Hollywood circles for years, and the same can be said about Harvey Weinstein. The Sunday Times has more on Gabriel Byrne’s comments regarding the production of The Usual Suspects being halted owing to Kevin Spacey’s sexual improper conduct.

In addition to these allegations, several other individuals came forward with accusations against Spacey, including employees of the Old Vic theater in London, where Spacey served as artistic director from 2004-2015. An investigation by the theater found that 20 people had made allegations of inappropriate behavior against Spacey during his tenure.

Spacey has largely remained out of the public eye since the allegations surfaced. In 2019, he was charged with indecent assault and battery in relation to an incident involving a young man in Massachusetts in 2016. The case was later dismissed due to the death of the alleged victim.

The allegations against Spacey have had a significant impact on his career and reputation. While he was once one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood, he has faced widespread condemnation and faced difficulty finding work in the industry since the allegations surfaced.

It remains to be seen how the events of 2017 will continue to affect Spacey’s career and personal life. However, the allegations against him serve as a reminder of the need for accountability and justice for victims of sexual misconduct.

While Spacey has not been found guilty of any crimes in a court of law, the sheer number of accusations against him and the evidence presented by his accusers make it clear that there is a serious issue at hand. The #MeToo movement has brought attention to the prevalence of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry and has sparked important discussions about the need for change.

Several movie stars have faced allegations of sexual misconduct. Some of the most prominent examples include:

Woody Allen: In 1992, Dylan Farrow, the adopted daughter of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, accused Allen of sexually assaulting her when she was a child. Allen has denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed in the case. However, the allegations have had a significant impact on Allen’s career and reputation.

Morgan Freeman: In 2018, multiple women came forward with accusations of sexual harassment against Freeman. The allegations included instances of Freeman making inappropriate comments and gestures towards women on set and in other professional settings. Freeman faced widespread condemnation and issued an apology in response to the allegations.

Bill Cosby: In 2014, multiple women came forward with accusations of sexual assault against comedian and actor Bill Cosby. The allegations dated back decades, and many of the women said that Cosby had drugged them before assaulting them. Cosby was eventually convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 3-10 years in prison.

Casey Affleck: In 2010, two women who worked on the set of Casey Affleck’s film “I’m Still Here” accused the actor of sexual harassment. Affleck denied the allegations, and the cases were settled out of court. However, the allegations resurfaced during the 2017 awards season, leading to backlash and controversy.

James Franco: In 2018, several women accused James Franco of sexually inappropriate behavior. The allegations included instances of Franco pressuring women to perform sexual acts and removing protective guards during an orgy scene. Franco denied the allegations and continued to work in the industry, but the allegations have had a negative impact on his career.

Louis C.K.: In 2017, multiple women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against comedian Louis C.K. The allegations included instances of C.K. masturbating in front of them without their consent. C.K. faced backlash and lost various professional opportunities as a result of the allegations.

Harvey Weinstein: In 2017, multiple women came forward with accusations of sexual harassment and assault against Weinstein, a powerful Hollywood producer. The allegations sparked a wave of similar accusations against other high-profile men in the entertainment industry and beyond. Weinstein was later convicted of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 23 years in prison.