Kevin Spacey Tears Up, Quotes ‘Friend’ Elton John in Fiery Speech at Cannes: ‘I’m Still Standing’

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On Tuesday night, Kevin Spacey made an impassioned, extended speech at the Cannes Film Festival. This was his first appearance at this international event in nearly ten years and since his acquittal on sexual assault allegations.

At an event hosted by the Better World Fund, Spacey received a lifetime achievement award and delivered a heartfelt speech. During his address, he drew a parallel between his own professional downfall and the blacklisting of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, causing him to become emotional. To conclude, he referenced a quote from his friend Elton John: “I’m still standing.

Spacey was the main attraction at the event, where he was highly commended on stage by the president of Better World Fund, Manuel Collas de la Roche. He remarked that Spacey symbolized the “strong connection between art and impact.

Spacey commended the occasion for its boldness in extending an invitation to him, remarking, “Who could have imagined that recognizing someone who has been cleared in every courtroom they’ve stepped foot in would be considered a daring move.

Additionally, he drew a parallel between his own invitation from the Better World Fund and Kirk Douglas’ advocacy for the blacklisted writer Trumbo, implying that both instances demonstrated support for those facing adversity.

Kirk Douglas bravely stepped into uncertain situations, and he often reflected that while acting heroes on-screen can battle villains and champion justice, the distinctions between good and evil aren’t as straightforward in reality.

The occasion showcased an auction as well, boasting items such as a designer humidifier for cigars, a guitar autographed by Kevin Costner, and another guitar autographed by Sting (the latter fetching $28,000). At one instance, Spacey was escorted onto the stage to encourage the crowd to focus during the auction.

spacey’s unexpected appearance at Cannes, as reported by EbMaster last weekend, represents his first attendance at the festival since 2016 when he was the host for the amfAR gala. Since then, Spacey’s career took a downturn in 2017 following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. Over thirty men have since accused Spacey of sexual assault or inappropriate behavior, resulting in his departure from Netflix’s “House of Cards.

In 2022, Spacey was declared innocent in a civil trial held in New York, and in one of the U.K.’s most notable #MeToo cases, he was acquitted in a criminal trial in London the following year.

As a film critic, I recently attended Cannes to witness the intriguing premiere of “The Awakening,” a captivating conspiracy thriller masterfully produced and starring Kevin Spacey. This British independent production takes viewers on an exhilarating journey unveiling a chilling global cabal that governs our world – with none other than Spacey at its helm. Remarkably, this was Spacey’s first film following his acquittal in the U.K. in 2023, making it all the more fascinating to watch. The producers are actively seeking distribution deals for “The Awakening” during this year’s festival – a must-see for any thriller enthusiast.

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2025-05-21 01:21