Kevin Spacey ordered to pay $31m over House Of Cards axing

Actor Kevin Spacey and his production companies have been ordered to pay the makers of House Of Cards almost $31m (£25.5m) to make up for losses incurred by his sacking for sexually harassing crew members.

The ruling confirms a decision by a private arbitrator last year in favour of the production companies behind the popular Netflix series.

Spacey was fired from the show in 2017 amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.

Back in November, the Hollywood actor was ordered to pay the sum to independent production company Media Rights Capital following “explosive” allegations of sexual misconduct involving young crew members working on the show.

He filed to have the order overturned, but Los Angeles judge Mel Recana dismissed his application.

The original filings from MRC, obtained by the PA agency, detailed how Spacey was cut from House Of Cards following allegations he was “systematically preying upon, sexually harassing, and groping young men that he had worked with throughout his career on film, television, and theatre projects”.

The arbitrator concluded Spacey had repeatedly breached contractual obligations to provide services “in a professional manner” which were “consistent with (MRC’s) reasonable directions, practices and policies” – including its anti-harassment policies.

The actor starred in House Of Cards for five seasons, playing the calculating Frank Underwood, before being cut from the show after the allegations surfaced.

In the original ruling, the arbitrator also found Spacey was not entitled to be paid for the remainder of his contract, as his dismissal had caused the show’s sixth season to be shortened and rewritten and cost MRC millions in lost revenue.

It comes after Spacey appeared in a UK court to “strenuously” deny further allegations of sexual assault charges dating back 17 years.

At London’s Old Bailey on 14 July, he denied five allegations relating to three men, who are now in their 30s and 40s.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place in London and Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2013, during which time Spacey was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre.