“I’m still standing” - Kevin Spacey quotes “friend” Elton John after receiving lifetime achievement award at Cannes

Jury Deliberates On Kevin Spacey Sexual Assault Charges - Source: Getty
Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual harrasment (Image Via Getty)

Kevin Spacey delivered a fiery speech at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

On May 20, Spacey was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The actor took the chance to quote his friend Elton John. Variety posted a clip of the speech on their X account.

"I say to you all the most positive vibes, and as my friend Elton John once said, the reason this means so much to me [is] because I’m still standing. I’m still standing.” Spacey quoted from Elton John's hit single back from the year 1983.

This was Spacey's first visit to a large gathering after being legally cleared of sexual assault allegations.

Spacey received the award at the grand gala held by the Better World Fund. During his speech, Spacey got emotional and compared his boycott from the film industry to the blacklisting of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.

This was not the first time Spacey expressed his gratitude for the support he received from Elton John and his husband, David Furnish. The two gave testimonies during the 2022 UK trial on behalf of Kevin Spacey. During an episode of Uncensored by Piers Morgan, Spacey expressed that this gesture meant the world to him.

“You actually just reminded me that Elton was the first email I got on October 30th of 2017 – after the [Anthony] Rapp story had come out – saying, ‘We love you. Whatever you need, we’re here for you." Spacey told Morgan.

He also took the chance to acknowledge the great American filmmaker Kirk Douglas during his speech.

“My thanks again … Kirk Douglas and his friends and tonight for all of you, for making me feel so welcome. I would like you all to raise your glasses and just toast to friendship. Which can get us through anything in this life. Said Spacey during his speech as the audience gave him an applause.

He further compared the Better World Fund's decision to Douglas' support of the blacklisted writer Dalton Tumbo.

“Kirk Douglas took the risk and would later say, it’s easy for us actors to play the hero on screen, we get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice, but in real life, the choices are not always so clear.”

The actor attended the grand gala to attract buyers for his latest film, Awakening. This is the first movie in which he plays a central role after being cleared of sexual harassment charges in the UK in 2023.


Sexual harassment allegations

During 2017, more than 30 men accused actor Kevin Spacey of inappropriate sexual behavior. These allegations took a hit on Spacey's career, and he was asked to exit the last season of Netflix's House of Cards.

Spacey was found not guilty in the 2022 civil lawsuit in New York but was dragged in a criminal case in London, making it one of the UK's most high-profile #MeToo cases.

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Edited by Yesha Srivastava