Immediately, commentators in Hollywood slammed the response. Many have taken issue with Spacey using alcohol to justify the alleged incident while others have accused the actor of trying to dwarf the misconduct claims with news of his sexuality.
In a series of tweets, Vanity Fair writer Richard Lawson said Spacey linking his coming out to the accusations of misconduct on an underage boy was "disgusting".
"Coming out as a gay man is not the same thing as coming out as someone who preyed on a 14-year-old. Conflating those things is disgusting," Lawson wrote.
"This exposes the gay community to a million tired old criticisms and conspiracies.
"The distance we've had to walk to get away from the notion that we're all paedophiles is significant.
"For a famous person to deflect these accusations with a long-in-the-making coming out is so cruel to his supposed new community it stings."
In an earlier tweet, Lawson acknowledged the struggle Spacey must have suffered through as he grappled with his sexuality while being a Hollywood star - but said it was no excuse for such behaviour.
"The psychology of the closet is dark and cruel and self-punishing. That Spacey has dwelt in that for years is sad. But 14 is 14," he wrote.
As Kevin Spacey's name began to trend on social media, a 2005 clip from American cartoon series Family Guy resurfaced which predicted claims of underage misconduct against the actor.
In the clip, Stewie Griffin - a baby - runs through a shopping centre while screaming: "Help! I've escaped from Kevin Spacey's basement! Help me!"
Anthony Rapp made the allegations against Spacey in a Buzzfeed interview published on Monday.
Rapp, 46, detailed an alleged incident that he says happened at a 1986 party at Spacey's house when Rapp was 14 years old and Spacey was 26.
As the story made headlines around the world, Spacey released a statement on his official Twitter account. He said he was "beyond horrified" to learn of the allegations but said the story had encouraged him to "address other things about my life."
