NEW YORK: Netflix late Friday dropped Kevin Spacey, whose career is in free-fall over spiraling sexual assault accusations as police gather evidence for a possible arrest warrant against Harvey Weinstein for alleged rape.
The two-time Oscar winner Spacey, for years considered one of the most gifted actors of his generation, and whose collaboration with Netflix put the streaming giant on the map, has gone from esteemed actor to entertainment pariah in a matter of days.
Reportedly being investigated by British police for assaulting a man in London in 2008, he has been publicly accused of attempting to rape a 15-year-old boy in New York and of making advances on a 14-year-old.
Already dropped by his publicist and agent, Netflix became the latest entity to cut ties with Spacey, saying it would be involved in no further production of its hit series “House of Cards” that includes the 58-year-old. Production of the last and final season, which had been due to air in 2018, has already been suspended.
The streaming service also said it was abandoning the release of an upcoming film “Gore” that had also starred the actor, whose glittering career is now collapsing around him.
“Netflix will not be involved with any further production of ‘House of Cards’ that includes Kevin Spacey,” a spokesperson said.
The channel said it would work with the show’s production company, MRC, “to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the show.”
Eight current or former employees on the award-winning “House of Cards” told CNN that Spacey turned the set into a “toxic” environment through a pattern of sexual harassment of younger, male crew members.
Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, and Spacey are the most high-profile scalps in a month-long torrent of allegations bringing down like dominoes male power players from the worlds of politics, finance, entertainment and journalism.
Some 100 women have since early October accused Weinstein, a father of five, of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape, sparking police investigations in London, Los Angeles and New York.
On Friday, New York police confirmed that officers were gathering evidence for a possible arrest warrant in connection with Weinstein’s alleged double rape of “Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de la Huerta at her New York apartment in late 2010.
Spacey dumped by Netflix, police home in on Weinstein
Spacey dumped by Netflix, police home in on Weinstein
Pakistan to host week-long Qur’an recitation gathering at Faisal Mosque starting tonight
- Religious affairs ministry says ‘Mehfil-e-Shabeena’ will run from 21st to 27th night of Ramadan
- Daily recitations of four to five Qur’an sections to conclude with completion prayer on 27th night
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry on Tuesday said it will organize a week-long Qur’an recitation event known as “Mehfil-e-Shabeena” from the 21st to the 27th night of Ramadan at Islamabad’s iconic Faisal Mosque.
Mehfil-e-Shabeena is a devotional gathering held during Ramadan in which large portions of the Qur’an are recited at night in congregation. In Pakistan, such events are often organized during the final days of the holy month, with reciters completing the entire Qur’an over several nights of extended prayers.
“The seven-day Mehfil-e-Shabeena will formally begin today at Faisal Mosque,” the ministry said in a statement. “Each day, four to five sections of the Qur’an will be recited.”
The statement added that a special prayer will be offered on the 27th night after the completion of the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
The event will be broadcast live on state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) and Radio Pakistan.
Renowned Qur’an reciters, known as qaris, have gathered in the capital to participate in the event.
Muslims around the world visit mosques more frequently during the last ten nights of Ramadan, considered the most blessed period of the holy month, when believers spend late hours offering voluntary prayers and reciting the Qur’an.
Muslims believe that one of these odd-numbered nights is the “Night of Power,” when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Faisal Mosque is a landmark of Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. Spread over more than 54,000 square feet, it can accommodate over 250,000 worshippers at a time.
It is the largest mosque in Pakistan and among the largest mosques in the world.
Unlike traditional Islamic structures featuring domes, it was built along clean modern lines resembling the tents used by nomadic Arab tribes, with sloping roofs and a distinctive angular design.
