Guy Pearce 'sobbed' after Kevin Spacey 'targeted' him during 'L.A. Confidential' filming

Guy Pearce remembers his "L.A. Confidential" co-star Kevin Spacey being "charming" as much as he was "aggressive."

"The Brutalist" actor, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast, said the "House of Cards" star allegedly made advances toward him while filming the 1997 drama, saying he "had a couple of confrontations with Kevin" that "got ugly."

Pearce said he initially brushed it off.

"I did that for five months, and really, I was sort of scared of Kevin because he's quite an aggressive man," he told host THR executive awards editor and host Scott Feinberg. "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."

USA TODAY has reached out to Spacey for comment. On Tuesday afternoon, Spacey responded to Pearce's allegations in a nearly two-minute video posted to X, formerly Twitter.

Kevin Spacey: Guy Pearce is 'not a victim'

In his video, Spacey issued a fiery retort to Pearce's allegations, responding directly to him.

"While I would have preferred to not have to play this out in the media, you obviously have your own reasons for wanting to do exactly that," he started. "We worked together a long time ago. 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. You really want to know what my response is? Grow up."

Spacey also said: "Did you also, by the way, tell the press that a year after we shot 'L.A. Confidential' that you flew to 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 continued: "I apologize that I didn’t get the message that you don't like spending time with me. Maybe there was another reason, I don’t know. But that doesn’t make any sense. That you would have just been leading me on, right? But here you are now on a mission, some 28 years later, after I’ve been through hell and back, to do what?"

Spacey cast doubt on the timing of Pearce's comments, saying, "What took you so long? Did your horse run out of gas?"

"You want to have a conversation? I’m happy to do so, anytime, any place," he concluded. "We can even do it here, live on X, if you'd like. I’ve got nothing to hide. But Guy — you need to grow up. You are not a victim."

USA TODAY has reached out to Pearce's representatives for comment.

Guy Pearce: 'I probably was a victim to a degree'

The 2025 Oscar nominee didn't specify what exactly occurred. Pearce, now 57, said he was hesitant to use the word "victim" but "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."

Spacey, now 65, played Jack Vincennes in the 1997 cop drama opposite Russell Crowe's Bud White and Pearce's Ed Exley. The film also starred Kim Basinger and Danny Devito. Spacey turned 37 during filming, while Pearce was 28.

For Pearce, the incident would later resurface in an "incredible wake-up call" post allegations against Spacey during the #MeToo movement in the late 2010s. "I was in London working on something, and I heard (the reports) and I broke down and sobbed, and I couldn't stop," he said. "I think it really dawned on me the impact that had occurred and how I sort of brushed it off and how I had either shelved it or blocked it out."

Pearce has previously spoken out about Spacey, calling the "Baby Driver" actor a "handsy guy" in 2018. He later added in a statement that he regretted making the incident public despite being "made to feel uncomfortable," according to THR and Newsweek.

Now, Pearce is trying "to be more honest about it now and call it for what it is."

Spacey faces another British lawsuit alleging sexual abuse just over 18 months after he was cleared of all charges in a high-profile criminal trial.

The Oscar-winning actor was sued in a civil suit by a claimant at London's High Court last week, according to court records obtained by Reuters.

Kevin Spacey sued for alleged sexual abuse in UK case

The case is also being brought against London's Old Vic theatre, where Spacey worked as artistic director from around 2003 until 2015. No other details of the lawsuit are currently available.

Spacey is facing a separate lawsuit in London for alleged sexual abuse. During his 2023 criminal trial, for which he was acquitted, Spacey said three of the complainants in the criminal case had also brought civil claims against him. Spacey has denied all of the sexual misconduct accusations against him.

Contributing: Sam Tobin and Michael Holden, Reuters; KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Guy Pearce 'sobbed' over Kevin Spacey L.A. Confidential set actions