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Guy Pearce has claimed that scandal-scarred actor Kevin Spacey “targeted” him on the set of their 1997 crime film, “LA Confidential.”

The “Brutalist” actor, who has just received his first Oscar nomination for the project, recalled his interactions with Spacey, 65, and admitted he felt “scared and uncomfortable.”

“I probably was a victim to a degree; I was certainly not a victim by any means to the extent that other people have been to sexual predators,” Pearce said on the Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast.


  Guy Pearce has claimed that scandal-scarred actor Kevin Spacey “targeted” him on the set of their 1997 crime film, “LA Confidential.” AP Guy Pearce has claimed that scandal-scarred actor Kevin Spacey “targeted” him on the set of their 1997 crime film, “LA Confidential.” AP

Still, Pearce admits that he brushed off the “House of Cards” actor’s alleged actions for nearly half a year.

“‘Ah, that’s nothing. Ah, no, that’s nothing,’” he said, recalling what he told himself at the time. “I did that for five months, and really I was sort of scared of Kevin because he’s quite an aggressive man.”

“He’s extremely charming and brilliant at what he does — really impressive. He holds a room remarkably. But I was young and susceptible, and he targeted me, no question,” Pearce added.

The “Memento” star, 57, starred opposite Spacey and Russell Crowe in the 1997 film, which was based on the novel by James Ellroy. Pearce was 29 at the time.


  The “Brutalist” actor recalled his past interactions with the two-time Oscar winner, saying he was left feeling “scared and uncomfortable.” Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group The “Brutalist” actor recalled his past interactions with the two-time Oscar winner, saying he was left feeling “scared and uncomfortable.” Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Filmed Entertainment Group

  The “Memento” star, 57, starred opposite Spacey and Russell Crowe in the 1997 film.
 The “Memento” star, 57, starred opposite Spacey and Russell Crowe in the 1997 film.

Elsewhere, Pearce — who previously called Spacey a “handsy guy” — recalled telling his then-wife, Kate Mestitz, that he only felt safe on set when fellow actor Simon Baker was around.

“The only days I feel safe are the days when [Simon Baker] is on set because I’m dumped like a hot potato, and [Kevin] focuses on [Simon] because he was 10 times prettier than I am,” he said.


  Danny DeVito, Simon Baker and Kevin Spacey in “LA Confidential.” Everett Collection Danny DeVito, Simon Baker and Kevin Spacey in “LA Confidential.” Everett Collection

Spacey fired back at Pearce on X with a nearly two-minute video rebuttal.

“Grow up, Guy Pearce,” Spacey said. “You are not a victim.”

“I’ve now read the comments that you made about me, and while I would have preferred not to have to play this out in the media, you obviously have your own reasons for wanting to do exactly that,” the actor stated in the clip, speaking directly to Pearce.

Spacey continued, “If I did something then that upset you, you could have reached out to me. We could have had that conversation. But instead you’ve decided to speak to the press who are now, of course, coming after me because they would like to know what my response is to the things that you said.”

The Oscar winner then asked, “Did you also, by the way, tell the press that a year after we shot ‘LA Confidential,’ you flew to Savannah, Georgia? While I was shooting ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ just to spend time with me?”

“I mean, did you tell the press that, too? Or does that not fit into the victim narrative you have going?” he added.

Spacey suggested that “maybe there is another reason” Pearce doesn’t like “spending time” with him.

“But that doesn’t make any sense that you would have just been leading me on, right?” he asked the “Brutalist” star. “But here you are now on a mission some 28 years later, after I’ve been through hell and back to do what?”


  Spacey was infamously banished from Hollywood in 2017 after allegations of sexual assault were leveled against him as the #MeToo movement started to take shape. Alec Tabak Spacey was infamously banished from Hollywood in 2017 after allegations of sexual assault were leveled against him as the #MeToo movement started to take shape. Alec Tabak

Spacey then challenged Pearce to have a live-stream conversation.

“So what’s going on here? What took you so long? Did your horse run out of gas?” the actor went on. “I mean, you want to have a conversation? I’m happy to do so. Anytime, anyplace. We can even do it here. Live on X, if you like. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

Spacey was infamously banished from Hollywood in 2017 after allegations of sexual assault were leveled against him as the #MeToo movement started to take shape.

The “American Beauty” actor was accused of committing sex offenses against four men between 2004 and 2013 while he was serving as artistic director at London’s historic Old Vic Theatre.

He was charged with nine separate counts — including sexual assault and causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He denied all the allegations.

The two-time Oscar winner was deemed innocent in July 2023 and acquitted of all nine charges. He also won a sexual abuse case against alleged victim and fellow actor Anthony Rapp in 2022.

The “Usual Suspects” star also publicly came out as gay.

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