‘I didn’t know the man’: Robin Wright calls relationship with Kevin Spacey just business
On the Today show, Robin Wright called her relationship with Kevin Spacey "respectful" and "professional". Photo: Twitter
In a surprise admission, Robin Wright has said she only ever had a professional relationship with disgraced actor Kevin Spacey.
Wright played Spacey’s on-screen wife Claire Underwood in the Netflix hit House of Cards from 2013 until the actor was sacked last October amid multiple allegations of sexual assault against him.
“We were co-workers, really. We never socialised outside of work,” the Golden Globe winner told US talk show Today on Monday (US time).
“I didn’t know the man.”
Wright, 52, said she has had no contact with Spacey, 58, since his sudden departure from the show.
“I haven’t heard from him and I don’t even know how to reach him.”
The Princess Bride star was asked by Today host Savannah Guthrie if there was “any kind of red flag” that made her think Spacey’s alleged behaviour was possible.
“Kevin and I knew each other between action and cut, and in between setups where we would giggle,” she said.
“[It was a] respectful, professional relationship. He was so great with me. He was never disrespectful to me, so that’s my personal experience.
“That’s the only thing that I feel I have the right to talk about.”
Wright’s claims prompted a swift social media reaction:
'Today' show lets Robin Wright avoid most serious allegations about Kevin Spacey behavior on set – and totally distance herself from him. This is Hollywood PR, not journalism. https://t.co/ybyOLuGwrP
— David Zurawik (@davidzurawik) July 9, 2018
I believe Robin Wright, said no one ever. FYI, when everyone and everything around you is devoid of morality, then recognizing what is humane is difficult. #BoycottHouseOfCards
— Real John Roberts 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JohnHRobertsJr) July 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/SuzannaAnselm/status/1016323919689609216
Some fans supported Wright, with one Twitter user calling her “classy” and others saying she was protecting herself legally:
Interview was awkward – similar questions could have been ask of Savannah by Robin Wright about #MattLauer #TodayShow
— Herb Lair (@herblair) July 9, 2018
And, she knows as well as I do, that 'In America and Other Great Democracies that 'A Man is Innocent, Until Proven Guilty!!!!!!!' So, Robin Wright is 'Intelligent, Wise, And, Respectful when talking about a collegue'. She's got 'Class'!!! 😀😀😀
— Ia Sisberg. (@ia_sisberg) July 10, 2018
Last October, Spacey was accused of making a pass at Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, who said he was 14 and Spacey 26 at the time.
Spacey responded with a tweeted “sincerest apology” and came out as a gay man, which sparked a furious backlash.
Netflix cut ties with the actor and wrote him out of House of Cards after several of the show’s employees also accused Spacey of inappropriate behaviour.
The drama continued for its sixth and final eight-episode season, with Wright stepping into lead duties as the new President Underwood.
A message from the President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/yx0P3qyHfW
— House of Cards (@HouseofCards) July 4, 2018
Wright told Today the show’s cast and crew were “surprised, of course, and ultimately saddened” after learning of the sexual misconduct allegations against Spacey.
On July 3, Jack Irish star Guy Pearce told Andrew Denton on Seven’s Interview show that Spacey was “handsy” with him when they co-starred in 1995’s Usual Suspects.
“Thankfully I was 29, and not 14,” Pearce said.
The day before Pearce’s claims, the UK’s Met Police confirmed Spacey is being investigated over three new sexual assault claims in London.
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