Kevin Spacey made a dramatic return to the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday night, delivering an emotional and defiant speech as he accepted a lifetime achievement award from the Better World Fund. It marked his first appearance at the festival since 2016 — and his most high-profile public outing since being acquitted of multiple sexual assault charges.
Tearing up on stage, Spacey compared his years of exile from Hollywood to the blacklisting of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. He ended his speech by quoting lyrics from what he called his “friend” Elton John: “I’m still standing.”
The gala’s host, Better World Fund president Manuel Collas de la Roche, praised Spacey as a symbol of “the powerful interaction between art and influence.” Spacey thanked the organization for what he called a bold move in inviting him, adding, “Who would have thought that honoring someone who has been exonerated in every single courtroom he’s walked into would be considered brave?”
Spacey’s appearance was part of a larger event that included a charity auction featuring luxury items like a designer cigar humidifier and guitars signed by Kevin Costner and Sting — the latter selling for $28,000. At one point, Spacey was invited back on stage to help refocus the audience’s attention during the bidding.
The Oscar-winning actor had not been seen at Cannes since hosting the amfAR gala in 2016. A year later, his career collapsed following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. Over 30 men have accused Spacey of inappropriate behavior since 2017, resulting in his removal from Netflix’s House of Cards and other high-profile projects.
However, Spacey has since been cleared in multiple legal cases. In 2022, he was found not liable in a New York civil lawsuit, and in 2023, he was acquitted in a widely publicized London criminal trial.
His reappearance at Cannes coincides with the promotion of The Awakening, a British conspiracy thriller in which he plays a shadowy leader of a global cabal. The film is his first role since his legal acquittals and is currently being shopped to international buyers at the festival.
For Spacey, Tuesday’s gala was more than an award ceremony — it was a declaration of intent. “I’m still standing,” he said, underscoring his desire to reclaim his place in the industry.
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