Actor Kevin Spacey said Sunday he is "beyond horrified" by allegations that he made a sexual advance on a teen boy decades ago.
The two-time Oscar winner posted on Twitter that he doesn't remember the encounter. "But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years," he said.
In an interview with BuzzFeed, actor Anthony Rapp said Spacey befriended him while they both performed on Broadway shows. Rapp was 14 when he attended a party at Spacey's apartment in 1986, he said. At the end of the night, an inebriated Spacey picked him up, placed him on his bed, and climbed on top of him, Rapp said.
Rapp said the 26-year-old was holding him down tightly, but he was able to get away and left the apartment.
Rapp, who is now 46 and starring in the TV show "Star Trek: Discovery", said he came forward after allegations against Harvey Weinstein sparked conversations about sexual abuse and harassment in the entertainment industry.
Netflix series "House of Cards" star Spacey, who is now 58, spoke publicly about his sexual orientation for the first time Sunday on Twitter.
"As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women," he said. "I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man."
Spacey, who has fiercely protected his private life, had never disclosed his sexuality before but said Rapp's story encouraged him to speak.
"I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behavior," he said.
In 2000, Spacey denied in an interview that he was gay, following an article in Esquire magazine in 1997 insinuating that he was.
Spacey's apology was met with mixed responses online from some celebrities and gay activists in the US.
"Nope to Kevin Spacey's statement. Nope. There's no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child," tweeted Dan Savage, a U.S. journalist active in the LGBT community.
Actress Rose McGowan, who has been vocal on sexual harassment issues in Hollywood after accusing film boss Harvey Weinstein of rape earlier this month, said that the media should focus on Anthony Rapp's story, rather than Spacey's coming out.
"Keep focus on #AnthonyRapp BE THE VICTIM'S VOICE. Help us level the playing field," she tweeted.
Rapp's accusation came after more than 50 women accused movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of misconduct including rape, sexual abuse and harassment. His accusers include stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Mira Sorvino.
The now-disgraced tycoon was sacked as co-chairman of The Weinstein Company and also resigned from its board.
The twice-married father of five has so far denied forcing himself on his accusers. He is being investigated by authorities in Los Angeles, New York and London.