Just as a felony charge was announced against Kevin Spacey in connection with sexual misconduct allegations, the former "House of Cards" star posted a strange video on YouTube. USA TODAY
Corrections & clarifications: This story has been edited since its original publication.
Kevin Spacey's bizarre video, in character as Frank Underwood, is catching the eye of Hollywood, but not in a good way.
Spacey, who faces a felony charge tied to a 2016 sexual assault allegation in Massachusetts, returned to social media Christmas Eve with a "House of Cards"-inspired monologue that appeared to criticize the #MeToo movement while employing the fictional Underwood to defend Spacey.
"Of course, some believed everything and have just been waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all," he says as Underwood, who was killed off the Netflix series in November after Spacey was fired from the final season of the show.
"They’re just dying for me to declare that everything said was true and that I got what I deserved. Wouldn’t that be easy? If it was all so simple? You and I both know it’s never that simple, not in politics and not in life."
The three-minute video sparked reaction from fellow actors and directors who mocked Spacey's attempt to refute allegations.
Actress and outspoken activist in the #MeToo movement, Alyssa Milano slammed the video as "creepy."
"Kevin Spacey is sending a very disturbing message as he chastises his audience," actress Ellen Barkin ("Animal Kingdom," "Ocean's Thirteen") tweeted. "if you hypocrites loved me as a murderer, why won’t you love me as a sex offender? Maybe because Frank Underwood’s crimes are fiction and Kevin Spacey’s are not. #LostInSpacey"
Barkin also replied directly to Spacey's tweet of his video. "unfortunately you cannot be frank anymore. you also might find it difficult to be a sexual predator and a pedophlie," she advised, referencing the allegations facing him. "what you can be is a prisoner. we’d all tune in to see that."
Actress Patricia Arquette ("Boyhood," "Escape at Dannemora") said, "I'm sure none of the men who were kids at the time of their sexual assaults appreciate @KevinSpacey ‘s weird video. No. Just No."
Related: Kevin Spacey breaks silence in bizarre video, faces charge for alleged sexual assault
Anthony Rapp, who accused Spacey of making sexual advances in 1986, when he was just 14, responded to Arquette with the hashtag #truth.
Related: Anthony Rapp is 'very gratified' by people's responses following his Kevin Spacey claims
Arquette's sister, Rosanna Arquette, called the video "absurd," adding that "Kevin Spacey has apparently lost his mind."
She continued: "There are many more victims. What people don’t get is ...that the truth will rise to the top. All Lying Bad guys may finish last ,but they’re finished."
"Code Black" star Rob Lowe assured fans that he's "pretty sure there’s nothing in that mug Kevin Spacey drinks out of."
Comedian W. Kamau Bell said Spacey's team needs to exercise better judgement. "That Kevin Spacey video is further proof that no matter how rich and famous you get you need at least 3 people in your life who have no problem saying to you…" he wrote, adding a meme of Lesile Jones saying "Bruh? What the (expletive)?"
Related: How does the final season of 'House of Cards' kill Kevin Spacey?
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