Kevin Spacey accuser Anthony Rapp has “traits” of narcissistic personality disorder, an expert witness called by the Oscar-winner told jurors at his sexual battery trial on Tuesday.
Psychiatrist Alexander Bardey made the revelation as he responded to questioning by Spacey’s attorney Chase Scolnick in the Manhattan federal court civil trial.
As an expert hired by the defense, Bardey said he read Rapp’s autobiographical book – and identified traits or features of the disorder in stories the actor detailed in the memoir.
In one story, Rapp described helping save his mother from a band of criminals who were “preying on drivers” when he was 1 years old.
In Rapp’s telling, his mother looked back at him as the criminals approached, and they then “did not pursue their car,” Bardey testified.
People with features of the disorder may embellish their role in a story or “may actually take credit for things outside of their control” – similar to the anecdote Rapp shared in his book, the doctor told jurors.
Psychiatrist Alexander Bardey claimed that Kevin Spacey’s accuser Anthony Rapp has “traits” of narcissistic personality disorder. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
The expert witness called by Kevin Spacey’s defense also testified he disagreed with a PTSD diagnosis by a psychologist called by Anthony Rapp. Alec TabakBardey said he also disagreed with a psychologist hired by Rapp’s team who testified earlier in the case that the actor suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of his alleged encounter with Spacey.
Last week, Dr. Lisa Rocchio told jurors that she diagnosed Rapp with “delayed onset” PTSD as a result of Spacey allegedly picking him up and laying on top of him on a bed when he was 14 years old.
Rapp alleges the encounter with Spacey in 1986 was a sexual advance by the actor, who was 26 at the time, and described it as the most traumatic experience of his life.
Rapp described the encounter with Spacey when he was 14 as the most traumatic experience of his life. Alec TabakBardey’s testimony came after a lengthy cross examination of Spacey who responded to questions from one of Rapp’s attorneys for several hours Tuesday.
Spacey repeatedly denied the allegation at the heart of the suit and said he was driven to apologize to Rapp in a statement in 2017 by public relations professionals he had hired at the time.
On Monday, Spacey broke down on the stand while describing his decision to come out of the closet in the same statement he responded to Rapp’s allegation.
Spacey is accused of sexually abusing Rapp when he was a minor. REUTERS/Jane RosenbergRapp’s attorney pressed him on that Tuesday, asking if it was a tactic to “deflect the conversation.”
“No, sir,” Spacey responded.
Spacey’s attorneys are expected to rest their case by Wednesday.
