Was Kevin Spacey talking about himself in Oscar speech?

Spacey won Best Actor at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles for his portrayal of Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man who becomes obsessed with his teenage daughter’s best friend

A playwright has suggested Kevin Spacey was referring to his own ‘misconduct’ during his acceptance speech at the 2000 Oscars for his role in American Beauty.

Spacey won Best Actor at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles for his portrayal of Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man who becomes obsessed with his teenage daughter’s best friend.

But now Christopher Shinn, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play Dying City in 2006, has drawn attention to Spacey’s acceptance speech amid controversy surrounding the star after an allegation he once attempted to sexually assault a 14-year-old boy.

Shinn tweeted: ‘I always felt Kevin Spacey’s 2000 Oscar speech alluded to/minimized his misconduct. I bet it’ll be played a lot once more stories emerge’. 

During his speech – which he dedicated to fellow actor Jack Lemmon – Spacey said: ‘To my friends, for pointing out my worst qualities. I know you do it because you love me. And that’s why I loved playing Lester, because we got to see all of his worst qualities and we still grew to love him.

‘This movie to me is all about how any single act from any single person put out of context is damnable. But the joy of this movie is that it is real beauty. We found real beauty in this extraordinary script by Alan Ball.’

Netflix has announced that it is cancelling Spacey's show House of Cards after its sixth season, which is currently in production. Pictured: Spacey as Lester Burnham in American Beauty 

Netflix has announced that it is cancelling Spacey’s show House of Cards after its sixth season, which is currently in production. Pictured: Spacey as Lester Burnham in American Beauty 

Shinn tweeted: 'I always felt Kevin Spacey's 2000 Oscar speech alluded to/minimized his misconduct. I bet it'll be played a lot once more stories emerge'. Pictured: Spacey in American Beauty 

Shinn tweeted: ‘I always felt Kevin Spacey’s 2000 Oscar speech alluded to/minimized his misconduct. I bet it’ll be played a lot once more stories emerge’. Pictured: Spacey in American Beauty 

He concluded: ‘I am very proud to be an actor, and I have tried very hard to protect my work […] I am stunned, and a bit speechless.’

Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp claimed that Spacey attempted to sexually assault him at his New York apartment in 1986 when he was just 14.

Spacey was 26 at the time. 

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Rapp said that he found himself alone in the apartment at the end of the night and that Spacey then began to make his move.

‘He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. 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,’ said Rapp, who detailed being pressed up against the bed before being able to squirm away and ultimately leave the house without being assaulted by Spacey.       

Spacey issued a statement soon after the story was published on Sunday, which began with his claim that he did not recall this incident.

‘But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior,’ wrote Spacey.

But now Christopher Shinn, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play Dying City in 2006, has drawn attention to Spacey's acceptance speech amid controversy surround the star after an allegation he once attempted to sexually assault a 14-year-old boy

But now Christopher Shinn, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play Dying City in 2006, has drawn attention to Spacey’s acceptance speech amid controversy surround the star after an allegation he once attempted to sexually assault a 14-year-old boy

‘This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life. I know that there are other stories out there about me and that some have been fueled by the fact that I have been so protective of my privacy.’

He then went on to state: ‘I now choose to live as a gay man.’ 

Meanwhile, Netflix has announced that it is cancelling Spacey’s show House of Cards after its sixth season, which is currently in production.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk