The timeline is pretty simple: late Sunday night, Anthony Rapp’s interview with Buzzfeed was published, an interview where Rapp said that Kevin Spacey tried to seduce/groom him when he (Rapp) was 14 years old. Less than 24 hours later, Netflix announced that the currently-filming season of House of Cards (Season 6) would be the last, that they were effectively canceling the show. I understand that they are currently in production and that the livelihoods of many people are on the line, but of course Netflix was pipe-dreaming that Season 6 could go off without a hitch. And now, less than 48 hours after Rapp’s Buzzfeed interview was published, Netflix has suspended production on House of Cards.
Filming on the upcoming sixth and final season of Netflix’s Washington D.C.-set drama House of Cards has been suspended indefinitely. Cast and crew of the MRC-produced series were told of the shutdown this morning.
“MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on House of Cards season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew,” the two companies said in a joint statement to Deadline. The news comes less than 24 hours after Netflix announced that House of Cards will end with its upcoming sixth season as allegations of unwanted sexual advances in 1986 by HoC star Kevin Spacey against then-14-year-old Anthony Rapp had emerged.
The Emmy-nominated House of Cards had been in production in the Baltimore metro area on its sixth season. Executives from Netflix and MRC arrived there Monday “to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported” following the allegations against Spacey, who had not been scheduled to be on set yesterday.
“Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey,” the companies said in a joint statement Monday.
Season 6 of House of Cards had been expected to consist of 13 episodes and debut in mid-2018 on Netflix. It is unclear yet how the stop of production would impact that.
Considering there were low-key rumors about Spacey harassing below-the-line workers on House of Cards, this does not surprise me. I would like to think that this is a corporation trying very hard to act responsibly on behalf of their employees’ well-being, and that Netflix really wants to ensure that they’re doing everything correctly. But there’s a little voice in my head that says “Netflix heard the rumors long ago and decided to back up their star rather than below-the-line workers.” That little voice says “too little too late, Netflix.” Much like the Weinstein thing, this is mostly about a corporation trying to mitigate their legal liabilities. Still, it’s interesting that less than 24 hours after announcing the end of HoC, they’re now suspending production indefinitely. We’ll see.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
They are doing the right thing. I was going to cancel my Netflix account if they didn’t do this.
I think they heard a lot of people saying that and listened. And I appreciate that.
And what about all the working class actors and crew members that relied on that job? They had months of work lined up and now nothing. I am glad that Kevin Spacey lost his job because of his inexcusable behavior. He absolutely deserves it but hundreds of people did not deserve to lose their jobs. I’ve never seen the show and I’m sure it would be near impossible to replace just the lead character but that sucks for so many people.
It’s too bad, but their anger needs to be directed at Spacey for his actions, not Netflix for cancelling the show. People were going to start boycotting Netflix if they didn’t act quickly.
Life’s not fair all the time.
Their anger is also directed at Anthony Rapp if we judge by his Twitter.
“My fav show is being canceled because you spoke about being harassed, you should have kept your mouth shut.”
They’re tweeting all that “people lost jobs because of YOU” nonsense at him. And we wonder why victims stay silent. And I sincerely hope nobody manages to get him feel guilty because it’s in no way his damn fault.
And this is why too many a-listers and people with power get away with or enable this sh*t — they are all reliant on this one person for their livelihood. That’s also why so many a-listers with addiction and mental health issues aren’t urged to get help. Everyone is depending on them to keep the gravy train rolling. No one person should be so essential.
I think something must’ve happened on the set that Netflix and the production company cannot reveal due to legal issues.
Honestly stopped watching in season 2 with that annoying China bridge story-line.
I stopped after season 1.
I’m glad they stopped production- how could anyone work with someone accused of sexual assault? why would they want to pretend it didn’t happen, and carry on as normal?
it’s the same old story though, because we know that people do choose to work with predators, those already convicted, and they justify it. Just like those who watch after knowing, justify it.
I never even started watching. I could still remember the first British version and didn’t need a remake of any kind.
The might re-write the script to add Frank Underwood ‘s death
Yasss! Claire Underwood 4 Prez.
I wish the lower-level workers had the power to negotiate some sort of payout for the remainder of the season. It sucks that the person responsible for their jobs ending is going to walk away the most financially secure.
Exactly. It is unfair that others have to suffer for his wrong-doing. It’s bad enough that he made direct victims. These poor people are just peripheral workers who are going to lose income because he’s a creep.
Ya… that’s what I was thinking too. Seems like it’s the way of the world though.
I wonder if there is any kind of insurance policy on the show, for the main actors or the production in general.
If not, Netflix has a lot of cash, they could certainly make some kind of payout to the affected crew and cast. They’re also reportedly looking at a spin-off, hopefully the crew could be brought onto that as well.
I would have kept Netflix either way, His career in all likelihood is over. What I question is why did Woody Allen and Polanski continue, not only to make movies, but to thrive and have defenders. Our world has become full of so many sexual predators that when the next name is listed, we aren’t surprised. It’s as though we have become numb. So as the president gets his pass for his litany of allegations, he seems untouchable. At this moment, they all sicken me…Spacey probably thought he dodged a bullet after all these years, oh yeah, I forget he was “drunk” when he abused a 14 year old. F him.
I wonder if the patriarchy is weakening…In the old world, people like Woody and Polanski got a pass, and Playboy was all in good fun. Maybe Hugh Hefner had to die before #metoo and #speakout could rise in the wake of his passing.
Sex predators are as old as human civilisation.
The difference is we have finally decided to do something about them as a collective, including the ones that are less obvious where bottom pinching is as far as it gets.
I really can’t explain Polanski but as I said in a previous thread the difference from Allen is clear. Allen had one accusation made against him then nothing else. This is not and will not be the only accusation against Spacey. The shoes are going to start dropping. It’s wide spread and likely to get VERY ugly. Netflix is terrified of liability right now.
Mia4s: Please. Woody Allen is a sick twist. He took nude photos of his daughter and left them for his wife to find. Then he marries her, OMG. Dylan, his biological daughter said he led her to an attic type room, had her lay on her stomach and play with her brother’s train while he sexually assaulted her. I believe this goes just tad further than one accusation. If that were the case, you would be defending Spacey, it was an accusation. Decades have gone by, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Woody Allen has done despicable acts to those who trusted him most, his children. He is the worst of the worst.
One (very credible) allegation should be enough to tank his career when it involves a CHILD! There shouldn’t be a recovery from that. In the real world or in Hollywood.
These Woody Allen allegations have been around forever. I’m 31 and have never in my life seen one of his films BECAUSE OF what he did. Never will either. He is trash.
Annnd I was right @Nancy. The stories continue to drop against Spacey. With more to come. I’m not exonerating Allen, I’m explaining a business question. The reason Allen is not a financial risk (other than box office) is 30 years with one (non-workplace) accusation for which he was investigated and never charged. Accusations against Spacey are about, what, a dozen in 3 days? Netflix is taking the shutdown financial hit because they have advance knowledge of just how many accusers (likely more than a few from workplaces) and how bad it’s going to get. Possible liability nightmare.
Mia: Forgive me if I can’t put a man who DID take naked pictures of his wife’s daughter and then marry her to shut down the press (didn’t work) and “allegedly” sexually assaulted his biological daughter, who is to this day physically and emotionally broken before business statistics. Spacey’s time is now and eyes are opened to all the perverted men out there. But Allen sex crimes were committed before and during Weinstein’s era of sexual assaults. Weinstein will pay for his actions, but little Woody Allen will pay the ultimate price in Hell. This isn’t a business situation to me, it’s a true crime story of a famous person who lived in an era where people closed their eyes and said it couldn’t be true and were more concerned with their financial risk at the box office, since money means so much more than incest and assaults against children. Sickens me.
The notable difference for me is that it was a man who made the allegation this time. Apparently in Hollywood it takes 12, 30, 50 or more females to lend the same credibility.
I’ve read that statistically, a paedophile commits around 150 offences before being caught.
@ KIT Preach. Also the GAY paedophile angle gives it an extra air of indecency, which sells more gossip mags and gets more clicks, ergo more exposure and more containment work for Netflix.
Now I hope that people will start believing Corey Feldman .
He has been claiming for YEARS about being a victim of sexual predators in Hollywood, about how pedophilia IS a problem in that system and nobody took him seriously.
Yes, to all this. He has suffered years of torment, the death of his best friend, being mocked and ridiculed. And he was right, the entire time. This must be quite bittersweet for him.
Again, back to Bryan Singer. The stories from Apt Pupil set are horrifying, and the star Brad Renfro died so early, after years of cocaine and substance abuse- but it makes you wonder now, what might have happened to him on that set.
plenty of us took him seriously. But without names what can a consumer do? Tell me who to boycott and they don’t get my $$$.
You are so right; this is haunting…
Without names there is nothing really to believe. I think people generally know that this happens in Hollywood and that Corey was a victim. But what are you supposed to do when all he said was “it happens”?
I always believed Feldman and always felt part of the whole child actor problems (drugs, alcohol, mental illness, suicide) were related to traumatic experiences such as molestation and rape but I don’t remember any names being discussed unfortunately. Maybe this will be the breaking point and more names will come out.
Feldman explains clearly why he doesn’t name names: because he fears lawsuits for defamation, if other victim of abuse talk that would be a different story, I think.
The documentary “An open Secret” is amazing, but it had a lot of difficulties to have a theatrical release…how strange.
He has explained why: because if he talks he will have a lawsuit for defamation, and he is scared.
I think if other victim of these predators found the strenght to talk things will be different.
There is an amazing documentary on this subjet: An open Secret, it had a lot difficulties to find a proper theatrical release….how strange. But when the same directore made a similar documentary about the Catholic Church won an Oscar.
Gross. If Robin Wright wants her own show, though, I’d watch that in a heartbeat!
Me too
Has no one else personally witnessed underage boys (youngish teenagers) being led into gay bars by older men? I haven’t been to a gay bar since about 2003, so maybe things have changed. I certainly hope so.
I, for one, will not miss House of Cards, as I haven’t found it at all entertaining since the darkness of Trump spread over the land.
I wish the real POTUS would face consequences for his disgusting actions and perversions. Alas….
I’m sad for those who will most likely be unexpectedly out of work but if rumours about harrassing workers on the HoC set are true (and are likely to be true) then goodriddance to the show and shame on everyone if they knew and tolerated this behaviour.
The one silver lining is that we are seeing concrete consequences for these predators’ actions – Kevin Spacey lost an Emmy, his most popular show to date has been cancelled and he will struggle going forward as he is a) gay, b) a predator with pedo tendencies and c) both a) and b) combined.
Now I want to see Harvey Weinstein behind bars and his movie mogul days over and done.
I told people that would happen.. because Netflix KNEW there’d be more coming down the line. Same with Masterclass.com, who took down Kevin’s online acting classes (which was not free), and the International Emmy’s is now rescinding an honor they were going to bestow on him. This was NOT unknown before – it was just spoken about in hushed tones.
And I’m sad for everyone working on HoC. I’m sad for the people who’s award season dreams are now shot too (I’m just waiting to hear that All the Money in the World will be shelved). He harassed many and abused the power he had as an a-list celebrity, a producer and the artistic dirctor at the Old Vic (PLEASE NOTE: cast and crew there are now speaking too):
Please note – people who worked at the OV (cast and backstage people) are now talking of Kevin and his abuse of power there too:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5038849/Third-person-says-sexually-assaulted-Spacey.html
Reading those accounts really makes me wonder about the actual motivation behind Spacey doing acting workshops all over the globe with young, hopeful acting students. Was he really trying to encourage people to follow their dreams, or just scouting the next wave of victims? https://www.kevinspaceyfoundation.org/learning/kevinspaceyworkshopseries/
I am sick to my stomach.
I tried to post that link yesterday and it got deleted. There is not just one accusation against Spacey.
I heard a story about him from someone that I won’t share here as it is not my story. But he was a well known predator.
What I want to know is when are the authorities going to get involved in these kiddie rape assault charges.
There has been a lot of people coming forward in the UK and the Sun headline today( a gruesome Murdoch rag) said something like I saw Kevin’s Cock as the front page..yes that word was used..
Anyway there was a boy on a daytime show which featured on the BBC about Spacey taking him to NY when he was 16 ..plus a variety of stories on twitter etc..
If you can access the BBC news website it is a haunting story…
It appears you are correct in saying he targeted young and vulnerable..and that both sex’s could be a abused ..which reminds me that it’s not about sex but power
I hope that there is more exposure in the US as I feel he is a predator and has used ordinary people who would not be believed against a Hollywood Movie Star..