Kevin Spacey picks North Carolina for return to spotlight after years of controversy

Joe Marusak
·2 min read
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Oscar winner Kevin Spacey has chosen Concord to emerge publicly for the first time after years of controversy.

Spacey will appear all three days at the Mad Monster Party 2024 con at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Feb. 16-18.

Fellow Hollywood stars Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Lou Diamond Phillips and Taryn Manning also are scheduled to appear, along with “The Dukes of Hazzard” stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat and WWE wrestling legend Kane.

Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union, on ABC’s “Designated Survivor.”
Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack on the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union, on ABC’s “Designated Survivor.”

“His career imploded”

Spacey vanished from the Big Screen in 2017 after dozens of sexual assault allegations.

Less than a day after Spacey was accused of sexually harassing a minor more than 30 years ago, Netflix announced it would end its Emmy-winning “House of Cards” show after its final season in production, but without Spacey in the starring role or as an executive producer.

Spacey was never convicted of any charges, but the allegations tarnished him.

“His career imploded,” The Hollywood Reporter put it less gently in an article Wednesday about Spacey’s planned Concord appearance.

Spacey is on a comeback tour promoting his thriller film “Peter Five Eight” that’s scheduled for limited release on March 22, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

His Concord appearance also will be his first ever at a con, show organizers said on Facebook.

Angry comments appeared on the Mad Monster Party 2024 con site after organizers announced Spacey on the site Wednesday and Thursday.

Most all of the negative remarks quickly vanished from the site, although TMZ published a screenshot of some of the negative reaction in an article headlined, “Kevin Spacey Heading to Horror Con after Acquittal ... Social Media Users Object.”

Convention officials didn’t reply to an email request for comment from The Charlotte Observer on Friday.

On Facebook, show organizers say only that they’re “excited to welcome” the two-time Academy Award winner. No table selfies will be allowed.

“We will be offering House of Cards, The Usual Suspects ‘Line Up,’ and Se7en ‘What’s in the Box?’ Pro Photo-Ops,” organizers posted on Facebook.

Support “has meant so much to me”

Spacey appears in a 22-second video promo on the Mad Monster Facebook site.

“Hi, everybody, it’s Kevin Spacey here, your Maaaad Monster coming to Concord, North Carolina, February 16th through the 18th. That’s right: All three days. I’m looking forward to getting there.”

(Hint to his p.r. team: It’s “Concord,” not “Concurd.” They say it that way up North, not in the South. Although people from around the world live here now, it’s still the South, and of that we’re sure proud.)

In the video, Spacey also thanked his fans for their support “through all these years. It’s meant so much to me, and I hope you can make it. It would be nice to meet you in person.”