British journalist Piers Morgan and fellow panelist James Barr clashed on their show on Friday over allegations made by one of Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey’s victims that he sexually assaulted her.
Barr and other panelists appeared on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” to discuss Spacey’s recent interview with the British journalist and his fall from grace in the wake of the allegations. The panelists discussed how Hollywood canceled Spacey and drove him into bankruptcy, and debated whether they had a legitimate reason to isolate him from the film industry. (RELATED: Kevin Spacey breaks down in tears on camera as he admits he’s facing bankruptcy)
Morgan began by highlighting Spacey’s acquittal in both civil and criminal trials, then played a clip of an interview with the Hollywood actor in which Spacey responded to allegations from a victim named Scott, who claimed Spacey masturbated while sitting next to him at a film premiere.
“Yeah, and you treated it like, ‘Well, if this was true, he wouldn’t be emailing Kevin.'” [because he’d] “It can become too traumatic,” Barr said.
“Then why do you think that?” Morgan countered.
“When people have been abused, they often go back to their abuser to resolve the trauma they experienced in the past, or they end up in a cycle of abuse that doesn’t address the trauma,” Barr responded.
“Are you sending half-naked pictures?” Morgan asked.
“Yes! Because you may be seeking their approval,” Barr said.
“No, that’s bullshit, sorry,” Morgan said.
“No, that’s not bullshit!” Barr replied.
“Unfortunately, yes. And that’s what I’ve always had an issue with the Me Too movement. What I’ve always had an issue with the Me Too movement is that it has allowed these alleged victims to be victimized over and over again and continue to be victimized,” Morgan said.
“I find it extremely offensive to say ‘alleged victims,'” Barr interjected.
“Well, if they continue like this, I don’t think they’re legitimate victims,” Morgan began.
“Do you consider Kevin Spacey a victim?” Barr asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Morgan said.
“Certainly, that was the tone of the interview,” Barr noted.
As the group began to discuss, Morgan returned and defended his position regarding the alleged victim’s allegations against Spacey.
“Hold on a second, no, I don’t think he’s a victim. I don’t think you can say, ‘Kevin Spacey made a move on me and I was traumatized,’ and then send him nude photos,” Morgan said.
“You would think so if you looked at the history of abuse,” Barr began.
“That’s crazy. Sorry, James, you have to admit it’s crazy too,” interjected show contributor Esther Krakoue.
“No, that’s not funny. Look, if you don’t believe that, you need to go to therapy. Trust me, that’s a fact,” Barr defended.
“The thing is, I don’t think I’d ever go to therapy. For most people, going to therapy just makes things worse,” Morgan said.
Scott, an alleged former friend of Spacey’s, made allegations about the actor in a Channel 4 documentary this year, claiming that Spacey had masturbated while sitting next to him at the 1998 premiere as well as making advances on him at a Hollywood party. according to Last year, Spacey was acquitted by a London jury of nine counts of sexually assaulting four men, according to the Daily Mail.
During his interview with Morgan, Spacey said Scott sent him provocative photos, provided the show with emails from the alleged victim and revealed how he contacted Morgan after the 1998 incident.
