Netflix to cut Cards amid Spacey claims

Kevin Spacey in House of Cards

Hit political drama House of Cards will not return to global streamer Netflix after its forthcoming sixth season amid allegations of sexual misconduct against star Kevin Spacey.

In a joint statement, Netflix and Media Rights Capital, the show’s producer, said they were “deeply troubled” by Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp’s claim that Spacey attempted to “seduce” him in 1986, when Rapp was 14 years old.

“In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time,” the statement read.

Season six is due to arrive on Netflix in the middle of next year, and the streamer said it had always intended for it to be the show’s last run even prior to this week’s allegations against its star.

The announcement came after Rapp claimed in a Buzzfeed interview that Spacey made a sexual advance against him in 1986 at a party at the Academy Award-winning actor’s apartment. Spacey was 26 at the time.

Hours after publication of the interview, Spacey apologised to Rapp on Twitter, though he said he did not remember the incident in question.

“I’m beyond horrified to hear his story,” Spacey wrote. “I honestly do not 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 behaviour, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.”

Beau Willimon, House of Cards’ creator and showrunner, also issued a statement on Twitter calling Rapp’s story “deeply troubling,” adding that though he had not witnessed any inappropriate behaviour during his time on the show, he took “reports of such behaviour seriously.”

House of Cards, on which Spacey serves as exec producer, has been one of the standout hits for Netflix since its debut in 2013. The David Fincher-exec produced series has garnered numerous award nominations, including several for Spacey for his portrayal of politician Frank Underwood.