Netflix is opting to end House of Cards with its upcoming sixth season, following its star Kevin Spacey's sexual advance allegations.
The forthcoming episodes went into production several weeks ago — making headlines soon after for the base camp's proximity to an unrelated workplace shooting — and are expected to debut next year (via TVLine).
Netflix and production company Media Rights Capital said today: "We are deeply troubled by last night's news concerning Kevin Spacey. In response to last night's revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported.
"As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time."
Netflix reportedly made its decision to end House of Cards several months ago, although its public announcement may have been influenced by Spacey offering his "sincerest apology" late Sunday (October 29) over accusations that he made unwanted sexual advances towards Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp when Rapp was just 14.
Spacey spoke out hours after an interview was published in which Rapp alleged that Spacey threw him on a bed and climbed on top of him at a party back in 1986. Rapp claims that he was aware that the House of Cards actor was "trying to get with [him] sexually".
In a controversial move, Spacey used his public apology to come out as gay: "I honestly do not remember the encounter, it 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 and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all those years.
"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."
Spacey has since received harsh criticism from many for using this time to come out. Specifically, Star Trek's Zachary Quinto accused Spacey of making a "calculated manipulation to deflect attention".
"May Anthony Rapp's voice be the one which is amplified here. Victims' voices are the ones that deserve to be heard," Quinto added on Twitter.
House of Cards creator Beau Willimon spoke out on Monday as well when he referred to Rapp's allegations as "deeply troubling", while also claiming that he'd never seen Spacey engage in similar behaviour during the four seasons in which they worked together.
Willimon departed the Netflix political drama series last year, and turned over the creative reins to Frank Pugliese and Melissa James Gibson. Previously, Gibson promised that House of Cards would move into "new terrain" in its sixth season following the ascension of Claire Underwood.
