Kevin Spacey (pictured in May) faces new accusations about his conduct today

The Oscar-winning star accused of assaulting the loved-one of a TV journalist two weeks ago can today be named as Kevin Spacey who has suggested there could be more ‘stories’ about him to emerge.

Former US news anchor Heather Unruh said the Harvey Weinstein scandal had given her the courage to accuse the House of Cards star, 58, of attacking someone close to her.

Ms Unruh made her damaging claims more than two weeks before Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp got an apology after he said the actor, then 26, tried to seduce him when he was just 14.

She tweeted a picture of Spacey on October 13 with the message: 'The #weinsteinscandal has emboldened me … I was a Kevin Spacey fan until he assaulted a loved one. Time the dominoes fell'.

Ms Unruh has declined to give any more details about the alleged incident only adding: 'My intent was to encourage a badly needed investigation and conversation' and used the hashtag #It'sNotOk.

Another friend of a victim, Nadine West, came forward on Monday to claim that a young man close to her was 'groped' by Spacey while working alongside the actor at the Old Vic in London.

'Was apparently always known as one to avoid. Sadly unsurprised,' added West in a post on Twitter.

Scroll down for video

Former US news anchor Heather Unruh said the Weinstein scandal had given her the courage to accuse Kevin Spacey, 58, of attacking a loved one

Others have today claimed that Spacey acted inappropriately while working at the Old Vic in London

The identity of the Hollywood star Ms Unruh had accused online was not reported until Mr Rapp's damaging allegations emerged overnight.

Former US news anchor Heather Unruh said the Harvey Weinstein scandal had given her the courage to accuse Spacey

Spacey quickly apologized for the incident in a rambling and ill-conceived statement that he posted to his social media accounts.

He said he did not recall the incident, suggested that more stories may begin to emerge with similar claims and then, in a move that has drawn the ire of many members of the LGBT community, came out as a gay man in the wake of these alarming claims.

'It is deeply sad and troubling that this is how Kevin Spacey has chosen to come out,' wrote Zachary Quinto on Monday afternoon.

'Not by standing up as a point of pride - in the light of all his many awards and accomplishments thus inspiring tens of thousands of struggling LGBTQ kids around the world - but as a calculated manipulation to deflect attention from the very serious accusation that he attempt to molest one.'

He continued: 'I am sorry to hear of Anthony Rapp’s experience and subsequent suffering. And I am sorry that Kevin only saw fit to acknowledge his truth when he though it would serve him — just as his denial served him for so many years.

'May Anthony Rapp’s voice be the one which is amplified here. Victim’s voices are the ones that deserve to be heard.'

Billy Eichner, who applauded Quinto's statement, tweeted earlier in the day: 'That Kevin Spacey statement. Nope. Absolutely not. Nope. But honestly I hesitate to make jokes because the Spacey statement is truly disgusting, irresponsible and dangerous.'

Several people now claim to know people who have been treated inappropriately by Spacey, including while he was artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre.

Jennie Rigg-ormortis‏ replied and said: 'Have heard similar from more than one source. Hope more people come forward, but understand if they feel they can't'.

Kevin Spacey and the Old Vic have been asked to comment.

Spacey said he is 'beyond horrified' by the claim, that he does not remember the alleged incident, 'which would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour'.

He said the story 'has encouraged me to address other things about my life'.

In the Twitter post, he added: 'I know that there are stories out there about me and that some have been fuelled by the fact that I have been so protective of my privacy.

'As those closest to me know, in my life I have had relationships with both men and women. I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.

'I want to deal with this honestly and openly and that starts with examining my own behaviour.'

Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp (left) is accusing Hollywood A-lister Kevin Spacey (right) of making a sexual advance toward him when he was aged 14. Rapp told to BuzzFeed News that he met Spacey in 1986 while they both appeared in different Broadway shows

Spacey issued a statement (above) via his Twitter account after Rapp's claims were made public. The 58-year-old actor said he doesn't remember the encounter and apologized. He also said he chooses now to 'live as a gay man'

Beau Willimon, the US creator of the Netflix series House of Cards, has given a partial defence of Spacey while supporting Mr Rapp's courage

He was criticised for conflating his apology with officially coming out as gay.

Former Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins tweeted: Well done Kev. You stay silent on your sexuality until the time comes when you can conflate it with an alleged sexual assault on a minor.

Spacey, who was aged 26 at the time, allegedly invited Rapp to his apartment for a party in 1986. Rapp said that he went to watch TV in Spacey's bedroom until after midnight because he became bored. Spacey is pictured above in 1986 in Heartburn

'In doing so, you simultaneously undervalue the horrific nature of the allegation and set back the LGBT+ community. Well done'.

@rilaws said: '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.'

@larrywilmore wrote: 'Kevin Spacey's comment was wrong on so many levels.'

Rapp commented on Twitter: 'I came forward with my story, standing on the shoulders of the many courageous women and men who have been speaking out to shine a light and hopefully make a difference, as they have done for me.'

Rose McGowan has led a chorus of backlash against Kevin Spacey accusing him of coming out to excuse making a sexual pass at a 14-year-old Anthony Rapp.

The actress, who has been extremely vocal during the Harvey Weinstein fallout, took to Twitter to lay into the House of Cards actor.

She said, 'Bye bye, Spacey. Goodbye. It's your turn to cry. That's why we've gotta say goodbye,' ending with the hashtag Rose Army.

Jordan Thompson, an activist and New Hampshire native running for Moderator in Nashua's District 29 (Ward 2), said: 'Feels kinda gross that you're turning a story that should be about the victim (s)...into a story about you?

'Congrats on coming out, I guess?'

Another, identifying as Sherri, said: 'Is Kevin Spacey trying to change the focus from the sexual assault of a 14-year-old to his own sexuality?

'The assault is what matters.'

Writer Broderick Greer said: 'Deeply, deeply unwise framing of this Kevin Spacey story, especially as it relates to the conflation of sexual orientation and sexual assault.'

Former Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins tweeted that Spacey had 'set back' the LGBT+ community

Gay Times editor slams Spacey's decision to come out in apology to child star The editor of Gay Times magazine has criticised Kevin Spacey's 'highly problematic' decision to open up about his sexuality after he was accused of historical harassment. The House Of Cards star and former artistic director of London's Old Vic announced that he is living 'as a gay man' after actor Anthony Rapp accused the 58-year-old of an incident in 1986. Spacey said he does not remember the alleged incident, claimed to have taken place when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26, 'but if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour'. Josh Rivers, the newly-appointed editor of Gay Times, told the Press Association: 'It would make more sense for him to come out as an alcoholic than to conflate his sexuality with his alleged behaviour.' 'Kevin Spacey choosing this moment to declare his sexuality, as if it has anything to do with his alleged behaviour, is highly problematic.' He added: 'This conflation is precisely the type of manipulation to which our community has become acutely attuned, and we won't stand for it. 'Society has come a long way, but we are still fighting for the rights and visibility of many in our community ... Kevin has done us all a disservice.' Advertisement

New York-based editor Linsey Weber said: 'So Kevin Spacey is gonna use a coming out narrative to deflect that this 'oopsie' moment happened with a 14-year-old. Infuriating.'

Yashar Ali, another writer, said: 'Harvey Weinstein: 'I'm going to fight the NRA!'

'Kevin Spacey: 'I'm gay!'

'Same story different distractions...'

And journalist Jeff Black said: 'Nobody cares that Kevin Spacey is gay. Everyone reasonably tuned into Hollywood knew that already.

'People care that he may be a pedophile.'

Double Oscar winner Spacey is best known for the film American Beauty and TV drama House Of Cards.

His long-running tenure at The Old Vic hit the headlines a year after he joined when he reported to police that he had been attacked in a park at around 4am on a Saturday morning.

He later dropped the complaint, saying that a youth had conned him into handing over his mobile while he was walking his dog and that he injured himself when he tripped over his pet as he chased the youth.

In June last year, Spacey was presented with an honorary knighthood by His Royal Highness Prince Charles.

On Monday, following Rapp's accusation, the Royal Court theatre's artistic director, Vicky Featherstone, was asked if she was aware of stories about Spacey when he was working in London.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think that many people in theatre and the creative industries have been aware of many stories of many people over a lot of years.'

After the Harvey Weinstein allegations there had been an 'opening of the floodgates and a very important moment for us all throughout society, not just in our industry', she said.