Guests ‘speechless’ as Kevin Spacey reads poem at exclusive Rome museum event
- Two-time Oscar winner recited Italian poet Gabriele Tinti’s ‘The Boxer’ at the National Roman Museum
- Spacey read: ‘They used me for their entertainment, fed on shoddy stuff. Life was over in a moment’
Actor Kevin Spacey read a poem about a worn-out and dejected boxer during an unexpected performance at a Rome museum, weeks after a criminal sexual misconduct case against him collapsed in Massachusetts.
Spacey’s appearance at the National Roman Museum was not publicly announced in advance.
The museum had posted a cryptic notice on its website saying a two-time Oscar winner would be reading works by Italian poet Gabriele Tinti during a rare evening event on Friday – but didn’t name the person.
During the reading, Spacey stood next to an ancient Greek bronze statue of a battered fighter while reciting Tinti’s The Boxer.
The poem is about a fighter left bleeding at ringside, cast aside despite previous glory.
Anyone familiar with the rapid downward course of the former House of Cards actor’s career after sexual misconduct allegations were made against him in 2017 would have an easy time finding meaning between the lines.