(Screenshot via YouTube.)

Kevin Spacey is facing criticism for publicly coming out as gay in response to Anthony Rapp’s allegation that the “House of Cards” star sexually harassed him as a child.

Rapp, 46, revealed to BuzzFeed that he and Spacey became acquainted while working as actors on Broadway. When Rapp was 14 years old, Spacey invited him to his apartment for a party. Spacey was 26 at the time.

Rapp recounted that he became bored, as he was the only child at the party, and went into a bedroom to watch TV. He alleges that Spacey entered the bedroom looking drunk, carried Rapp to the bed and laid on top of him.

“He was trying to seduce me,” Rapp told BuzzFeed. “I don’t know if I would have used that language. But I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually.”

The “Star Trek” star says he was able to push Spacey off of him and left the apartment. However, the incident has weighed on him for years.

“The older I get, and the more I know, I feel very fortunate that something worse didn’t happen,” Rapp says. “And at the same time, the older I get, the more I can’t believe it. I could never imagine [that] anyone else I know would do something like that to a 14-year-old boy.”

Spacey, 58, released a statement in response to Rapp’s allegations saying that he doesn’t remember sexually harassing Rapp, but he apologizes.

“I’m beyond horrified to hear his story. I honestly do not recall the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years,” Spacey writes.

He also publicly came out as gay adding, “I choose now to live as a gay man.”

Some people took offense to Spacey’s apology and coming out story being included in the same statement.

No no no no no! You do not get to “choose” to hide under the rainbow! Kick rocks! https://t.co/xJDGAxDjxz

— Official Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) October 30, 2017

Nope to Kevin Spacey’s statement. Nope. There’s no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.

— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017

This whole Kevin Spacey situation reminds me that queerness is still more shocking than sexual violence to far too many people.

— Raquel Willis ? (@RaquelWillis_) October 30, 2017

Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 30, 2017

Anthony Rapp: “Kevin Spacey tried to rape me.”

Media: “Kevin how do you respond?”

Spacey: “uuh…uuhh… Hey everyone I’m gay!” pic.twitter.com/6LAEfsyRtF

— Travon Free (@Travon) October 30, 2017

I’m not interested in Kevin Spacey being gay. I’m curious as to why we’re conflating sexuality w/ the molestation of a minor. Stay on topic

— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) October 30, 2017

Rapp also tweeted a response to Spacey’s statement saying that he came forward with his story “to shine a light and hopefully make a difference.”

to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me. 2/3

— Anthony Rapp (@albinokid) October 30, 2017

Everything I wanted to say about my experience is in that article, and I have no further comment about it at this time.

— Anthony Rapp (@albinokid) October 30, 2017