Kevin Spacey to receive Lifetime Achievement Award amid assault allegations
What's the story
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is set to receive the Nations Award for Lifetime Achievement at a gala event in Taormina, Italy, this July.
The award ceremony will take place at the historic 4,000-seat Greek-roman theater.
In addition to receiving the award, Spacey will also give a short on-stage performance during the event scheduled for July 21.
Despite facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct—which Spacey has consistently denied—he continues to be recognized for his contributions to film and theater.
Event details
Event not linked to Taormina Film Festival
Per Deadline, the award ceremony is part of a series of cultural events happening throughout the summer at the ancient amphitheater.
However, it is not connected to the Taormina Film Festival, which runs from July 12 to 19.
Meanwhile, previous recipients of the Nations Award include Gina Lollobrigida, Claudia Cardinale, Gerard Depardieu, Ferzan Ozpetek, and Vittorio Storaro, among others.
In 2023, F. Murray Abraham—known for his Oscar-winning role in Miloš Forman's Amadeus (1985)—clinched the award.
Organizers' statement
Organizers expressed support for Spacey's career
The Nations Award is organized under the patronage of Italy's Senate of the Republic and the Sicily Regio, directed by Michel Curatolo with artist consultant Marco Fallanca.
The organizers stated, "Kevin Spacey is a timeless monument in film and theater history, who unquestionably deserves the chance to get his career back."
They added that it was a privilege to witness a performance by Spacey, whom they described as one of the acting greats of our time.
Legal issues
A quick look at Spacey's legal battles
The news of the Lifetime Achievement honor follows the 64-year-old actor's acquittal last year of several allegations made by four men in the UK, spanning from 2001 to 2013.
He was acquitted of other sexual assault charges in significant trials in the US, too.
However, he now faces a new civil trial in the UK scheduled for 2025. The trial has been brought by a man alleging that Spacey sexually assaulted him, resulting in "psychiatric damage" and "financial loss."