Old Vic Apologizes After 20 Kevin Spacey Accusers Come Forward

The Old Vic is very sorry about Kevin Spacey.

The London theater, which employed the now-disgraced actor as its artistic director from 2004 to 2015, has received 20 allegations of sexual misconduct -- 16 from former staff members.

Kate Varah, the Old Vic's executive director, "apologizes wholeheartedly" to the alleged victims.

"The Old Vic apologizes wholeheartedly to the people who told us that they have been affected," said Varah, reports The Guardian. "We've learned that it is not enough to have the right process in place. Everyone needs to feel able to speak out, no matter who they are."

"That apology really goes to the people who feel they were affected by this, but what is also important to understand there is a new way forward for this organization," she added.

The Old Vic opened a confidential channel to receive complaints around two weeks ago, after Spacey began facing allegations of inappropriate and criminal behavior. It also hired a law firm, Lewis Silkin, for an investigation into the complaints.

According to the investigation, the majority of alleged incidents, 17, happened between 2004 and 2009, although two were dated afterward, and one was in 1995. All the accusers were men. There were no accusations of rape, but 16 were serious enough for the theater to recommend that the accusers contact the police.

Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp was the first to come forward with allegations against Spacey, saying the Usual Suspects actor tried to "seduce" him when he was 14.

[RELATED: A Complete List of Kevin Spacey's Accusers]

Rapp's account sparked a string of accusers to come forward. One of them, actor Roberto Cavazos, said he had to reject two "unpleasant" advances that "bordered on harassment" while Spacey worked at the Old Vic.

Cavazos claimed he wasn't the only target by Spacey, who he said "routinely preyed" on other young male actors in a Facebook post. "It seems the only requirement was to be a male under the age of 30 for Mr. Spacey to feel free to touch us," Cavazos stated. "There are a lot of us who have a 'Kevin Spacey story.'"

Matthew Warchus, the current artistic director of the Old Vic, said he has "genuine and deep sympathy for all those who have come forward."

However, Warchus pushed back against claims that Spacey's behavior was an open secret, claiming it is "incorrect, unfair, and irresponsible to say that everybody knew." The lawyer investigating the case said, "There was not widespread knowledge about this," reporting varying "pockets" of knowledge or suspicion. The theater claims it received no official complaints of misconduct during Spacey's tenure.

Spacey has not responded to the Old Vic investigation. He checked into a rehabilation program earlier this month.