Arts & Entertainment
Kevin Spacey accused of using the N-word on ‘House of Cards’ set
Earl Blue of VIP Protective Services recounts the alleged incident
(Screenshot via YouTube.)
Kevin Spacey is facing mounting sexual misconduct allegations but now the actor is being accused of using the N-word on set of “House of Cards.”
Earl Blue, head of VIP Protective Services in Hanover, Maryland, was hired by production company Knight Takes King Productions to provide security on set during filming of season one of the show in 2012.
Blue told the Daily Mail that Spacey was “a very racist man.” He says his initial meeting with Spacey was “awkward.”
“He looks me up and down, looks at my supervisor up and down, and reaches across us to shake the hand of the police officer and then walks away,” Blue told the Daily Mail. “We are all standing there looking at each other like, ‘OK, that was awkward.'”
“He never spoke to my security guards, but he was talking to everyone else,” Blue added.
Blue says Spacey was suspicious of the black security guards assigned outside his trailer and checked to make sure the door was locked “at least a dozen times.”
Spacey was also reportedly unhappy with the uniforms and placement of the security guards.
“He started nit-picking about the uniforms, so we changed the uniforms. Then he would have his security come over and ask about a guard: ‘Why is that guard over there and not over here?'” Blue recalls.
Later, Blue told the Daily Mail he heard from a production manager that Spacey had announced over a speaker “he did not want n—ers on his set anymore.”
Spacey is now facing another sexual misconduct allegation from a third London man, according to TMZ. The incident is currently under investigation by Scotland Yard.
The Freddie’s Follies drag show was held at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 3. Performers included Monet Dupree, Michelle Livigne, Shirley Naytch, Gigi Paris Couture and Shenandoah.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Queer highlights of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Aunt Gladys, that ‘Heated Rivalry’ shoutout and more
Amy Madigan’s win in the supporting actress category puts her in serious contention to win the Oscar for ‘Weapons’
From Chelsea Handler shouting out Heated Rivalry in her opening monologue to Amy Madigan proving that horror performances can (and should) be taken seriously, the Critics Choice Awards provided plenty of iconic moments for queer movie fans to celebrate on the long road to Oscar night.
Handler kicked off the ceremony by recapping the biggest moments in pop culture last year, from Wicked: For Good to Sinners. She also made room to joke about the surprise hit TV sensation on everyone’s minds: “Shoutout to Heated Rivalry. Everyone loves it! Gay men love it, women love it, straight men who say they aren’t gay but work out at Equinox love it!”
The back-to-back wins for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein and Amy Madigan in Weapons are notable, given the horror bias that awards voters typically have. Aunt Gladys instantly became a pop culture phenomenon within the LGBTQ+ community when Zach Cregger’s hit horror comedy released in August, but the thought that Madigan could be a serious awards contender for such a fun, out-there performance seemed improbable to most months ago. Now, considering the sheer amount of critics’ attention she’s received over the past month, there’s no denying she’s in the running for the Oscar.
“I really wasn’t expecting all of this because I thought people would like the movie, and I thought people would dig Gladys, but you love Gladys! I mean, it’s crazy,” Madigan said during her acceptance speech. “I get [sent] makeup tutorials and paintings. I even got one weird thing about how she’s a sex icon also, which I didn’t go too deep into that one.”
Over on the TV side, Rhea Seehorn won in the incredibly competitive best actress in a drama series category for her acclaimed performance as Carol in Pluribus, beating out the likes of Emmy winner Britt Lower for Severance, Carrie Coon for The White Lotus, and Bella Ramsey for The Last of Us. Pluribus, which was created by Breaking Bad’s showrunner Vince Gilligan, has been celebrated by audiences for its rich exploration of queer trauma and conversion therapy.
Jean Smart was Hack’s only win of the night, as Hannah Einbinder couldn’t repeat her Emmy victory in the supporting actress in a comedy series category against Janelle James, who nabbed a trophy for Abbott Elementary. Hacks lost the best comedy series award to The Studio, as it did at the Emmys in September. And in the limited series category, Erin Doherty repeated her Emmy success in supporting actress, joining in yet another Adolescence awards sweep.
As Oscar fans speculate on what these Critics Choice wins mean for future ceremonies, we have next week’s Golden Globes ceremony to look forward to on Jan. 11.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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