Back to Stage
Banned by Hollywood, Embraced by Israel: Kevin Spacey's Comeback Tour
Actor Kevin Spacey announces Tel Aviv performance of "Songs & Stories" in November, marking his return to stage after legal battles and embracing Israel amid cultural boycott.
Acquitted actor Kevin Spacey, seeking to rebuild a career that ground to a halt amid dozens of sexual misconduct accusations, is set to perform a one-man show in Tel Aviv next month. The visit is being framed by the show’s producer as a defiant gesture against the growing cultural boycott targeting Israel.
Spacey will take the stage on November 19 at Hangar 11 with “Songs & Stories,” a personal performance accompanied by a jazz band, following earlier dates in Cyprus.
The Return After Legal Battles
The Academy Award-winning actor, known for roles in classics like The Usual Suspects and House of Cards, saw his professional life collapse beginning in 2017 when dozens of men accused him of sexual misconduct. He was subsequently fired by Netflix and lost his role in House of Cards, later being ordered to pay the streaming giant approximately $30 million in damages.
However, Spacey has since been acquitted in two major cases: a 2022 battery case in New York brought by actor Anthony Rapp, and a 2023 case in the UK where a court found him not guilty on nine charges of sexual assault.
In a promotional video for the new show, Spacey referenced his difficult period:
“So I’m back on the road... However you know me, I’m hopeful that you will join me this November as I take the stage with my band.”
The actor, who recently revealed in a 2024 interview with Piers Morgan that he is "many millions" in debt from legal fees and has "no money," appears determined to stage a professional comeback, having recently promoted his directorial project, Holiguards Saga – The Portal of Force, at the Venice Film Festival.
Embracing Israel Amid Boycott
The show’s producer, Alon Yorick, highlighted the geopolitical sensitivity of the performance. Yorick told Ynet that Spacey is "a true friend of Israel" and is coming during a "sensitive time" marked by widespread refusal from international artists to visit.
“Despite refusals from many international artists and media and cultural figures to come to Israel at this time,” said Yorick, “Spacey responded positively to our invitation and will come to embrace the Israeli audience.”
Spacey’s connection to the country is recent but strong. In December 2024, he visited the Western Wall and toured the Gaza border region and sites attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. During that trip, he led an acting master class at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv. The director of the school, aware of the trials and allegations against the actor, informed students of the controversies but allowed them to attend voluntarily. Following the two-hour class, Spacey reportedly received a standing ovation.
Tickets for the Tel Aviv performance start at NIS 254 (approximately $75) and range up to NIS 804 (approximately $245).