The 'Lord of the Rings' actor regrets his 'careless remarks' after suggesting that Spacey and Singer's alleged sexual misconducts were the results of their closeted gay lives.
- Mar 4, 2019
AceShowbiz - Ian McKellen has backtracked his controversial remarks about the sexual assault allegations leveled against Kevin Spacey and Bryan Singer. After landing in hot water over his initial statement, the British actor extends his apology via Twitter.
"As part of an extended podcast recently, I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn't abuse others," he begins his lengthy statement. "That, of course, is wrong. My intention was to encourage the LGBT audience I was addressing, to be proud and open about their sexuality. In doing so, my point was clumsily expressed. I would never, ever trivialise or condone abuse of any kind."
The 79-year-old continues, "I deeply regret my careless remarks and apologise unreservedly for any distress I caused. When it comes to abuse by people in positions of power, the correct response is clear. The accusers must be heard and the accused given then opportunity to clear their names. If the accusations prove credible, the abuser's access to power should be removed."
1/4 As part of an extended podcast recently, I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn’t abuse others. That, of course, is wrong. pic.twitter.com/9k6KLH2hx9
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) March 2, 2019
McKellen was asked about the scandal involving actor Spacey and filmmaker Singer during a recent live recording of the #QueerAF podcast. He suggested that both public figures wouldn't have done the things they were accused of doing if they had been open about their sexuality.
"With the couple of names you mentioned of people I worked with, both of them were in the closet," the openly gay actor said. "Hence all their problems as people and their relationship with other people. If they had been able to be open about themselves and their desires, they wouldn't have started abusing people in the way they're being accused."
McKellen previously blasted Spacey for coming out as gay in his statement addressing Anthony Rapp's accusations of making inappropriate sexual advances toward him when Rapp was 14. The Gandalf of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit" movies called it "reprehensible because it linked alleged underage sex with a declaration of sexuality."
