"Doctor Who" actor John Barrowman testified Monday about when he first heard Anthony Rapp talk about an interaction with Kevin Spacey in 1986 that would become the basis for his sex-abuse case against the actor.
Years later, in 1998, when Rapp was in London performing in "Rent," he and Barrowman met up and the topic of Spacey came up, an actor that had both met in 1986, when Barrowman came to New York to see Rapp, his high school friend, in a Broadway show. Spacey was acting in another play on Broadway at the time, and invited Rapp and Barrowman out to the club Limelight after a show one night, even though Rapp was underage.
During their 1998 meeting, Barrowman spoke about Spacey making a pass at him later that night in 1986, when they both went back to Spacey's apartment. While Rapp was in the bathroom, Barrowman says Spacey playfully pushed him onto the bed. But Barrowman says it didn't go further than that because he was "protective" of Rapp and didn't want him to walk in on him and Spacey in a compromising position. As soon as Rapp came out of the bathroom, he says he suggested they leave.
Rapp them told Barrowman a similar thing happened to him shortly after that night, when he was invited back to Spacey's apartment for a party and the 26-year-old actor lay on top of him. It's all part of a sexual misconduct allegation Rapp is now suing Spacey over in federal court. Rapp was 14 at the time.
"It was a very matter-of-fact conversation about what happened," Barrowman told the court, adding that Rapp showed no anger or disdain toward Spacey.
Barrowman said he wasn't at the party where Rapp said Spacey made an unwanted pass.
It wasn't until years after their conversation about Spacey that Rapp sent a direct message to Barrowman on Twitter letting him know he was going public with an assault allegation and asking if Barrowman, too, wanted to share his experience.
Barrowman said he didn't feel the same way Rapp did.
"I was a big enough boy. I knew I was gay," he testified. "To be honest, I was flattered that an older man was showing any interest in me."