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Kevin Spacey dedicates latest Christmas video to those 'suffering' in 2020: 'You are not alone'

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Published on December 24, 2020 05:15PM EST

Rather than keep up his House of Cards Christmas Eve schtick for the third year in a row, disgraced actor Kevin Spacey attempted to post something more meaningful this year.

Quickly dropping his former character Frank Underwood's country-fried accent, Spacey opted to deliver a message to those who have struggled this year.

"Heartbreakingly, so many have talked about things having gotten so bad for them that they have contemplated taking their own lives, and that's enough for me to want to take an entirely different approach this year," he said, noting that he was able to offer support "because of my own struggles."

"If you're standing in a place that you can no longer remain standing, if you're suffering, if you need help, if you feel guilt or shame, if you're struggling with your identity, if your back's up against the wall, or if you feel that there is no path for you, whatever your situation, I promise you there is a path," the actor said. "At this time, during this holiday and beyond, even if you don't feel it, there are people out there who understand and who can help, because you are not alone."

At the end of the video, he shared the phone number for the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 24-hour hotline.

Spacey began posting Christmas videos back in 2018 while facing felony charges for the alleged sexual assault of an 18-year-old man in 2016, allegations Spacey denied. Speaking in character as Frank Underwood, who was killed off at the start of House of Cards' sixth season, Spacey seemingly alluded to his removal from the show and the sexual assault claims against him in the video.

"You wouldn't believe the worst without evidence, would you? You wouldn't rush to judgments without facts, would you? Did you?" he asked at the time, in character as Underwood.

Spacey released another strange video last year, again wishing a Merry Christmas to his fans in character as Underwood. "...I've made some changes in my life and I'd like to invite you to join me. As we walk into 2020, I want to cast my vote for more good in this world," he said.

Outside of the yearly Christmas videos, Spacey has been largely absent from the spotlight after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of making sexual advances on him when Rapp was about 14. Soon after, Spacey came out as a gay man and said that while he does not remember the alleged encounter with Rapp, "if I did behave as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior."

Since Rapp first accused Spacey, the Oscar winner has faced allegations, all of which he has denied, resulting in criminal and civil charges in Nantucket, Mass., Los Angeles, and London. The Nantucket case was dropped when the accuser invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify in pretrial proceedings. The Los Angeles case was also dismissed after the accuser died of natural causes. Most recently, Rapp and another man sued Spacey in civil court earlier this year.

Watch the video above to hear Kevin Spacey share his third annual Christmas Eve message.

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