Elton John made an appearance on Monday, July 17, at Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault trial.
John surprised the court when he defended the actor, questioning the credibility of an accuser’s claim. Testifying virtually from Monaco, John recounted his version of events that contrasted with those described by an accuser who cited an inappropriate advance by Spacey during a car trip to John’s residence.
Facing 12 charges including sexual and indecent assault and compelling non-consensual sexual activity, Spacey, now 63, has been resolute in maintaining his innocence. He has disputed claims from three of four accusers, who allege they had disturbing encounters with the actor from 2001 to 2013.
John offered a different perspective on one specific allegation – an inappropriate grabbing incident on a drive to John’s annual gala ball. John affirmed that Spacey had only attended the event once, in 2001, where he later stayed at John’s house and bought a Mini Cooper at an auction supporting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The accuser had testified that the incident took place in 2004 or 2005.
Spacey, in his testimony, agreed he had an uncomfortable encounter during a night of heavy drinking but refuted the “crotch-grabbing” allegation as false. He admitted to sharing consensual interactions with two other individuals who, as he stated, regretted the incidents later.