Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey took the stand at a sexual assault trial in England on Thursday, claiming his alleged victims misunderstood his actions.

The 63-year-old actor reportedly spoke of his “romantic” and “slightly sexual” friendship with the first accuser, describing him as “funny, charming and flirtatious.” new york post. “I liked him a lot. We had a good time together. We laughed a lot,” Spacey told jurors at the Southwark Court. “I never thought that [the man] I thought… 20 years later they were going to stab me in the back. “

The person Spacey mentioned accused Spacey of assaulting him up to 12 times.

Kevin Spacey testifies in London sexual assault trial that he is a ‘big cheater’ https://t.co/3M4AAZRoqX

—TMZ (@TMZ) July 13, 2023

Spacey also suggested he was hurt by having to defend his reputation. When the accusers at the time spoke up, he said he was “devastated.” “I’m a cheater, a big cheater,” Spacey told the court, according to the paper.

The Usual Suspects star says the relationship was consensual. “It didn’t happen in a violent, aggressive or painful way. It was kind, touching and romantic in my heart,” he told the jury.

“We never had sex because he made it very clear that he didn’t want it any more,” Spacey said. “And I respected that.” (Related: Kevin Spacey’s accuser joked about sexual assault allegations after incident)

Spacey said the accusations against him “logically make no sense” and hinted that the accusers may regret being “intimate” with him.

The actor has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts, including one count of forcing someone to perform penetrative sex without consent.