LONDON — Actor Ian McKellen has apologized for remarks in which he appeared to suggest that allegations of sexual abuse that have been leveled against Kevin Spacey and Bryan Singer resulted from the entertainers’ unease with their own sexuality.
In this Nov. 1, 2017 file photo, actor Ian McKellen poses on the red carpet at the 12th edition of the Rome Film Fest, in Rome. McKellen is starring as King Lear in a London production that begins a four-month run in July. McKellen is getting a career and life retrospective through a new documentary called “McKellen: Playing The Part.” Image: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File
McKellen tweeted Saturday that comments made during the live #QueerAF podcast were “clumsily expressed.” He said “I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn’t abuse others. That, of course, is wrong.”
1/4 As part of an extended podcast recently, I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn’t abuse others. That, of course, is wrong. pic.twitter.com/9k6KLH2hx9
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) March 2, 2019
He went on to say that he “would never, ever trivialize or condone abuse of any kind. I deeply regret my careless remarks and apologise unreservedly for any distress I caused.”
Both Spacey and Singer have denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations. NVG
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