A Bethesda-based investor has found himself at odds with none other than Kevin Spacey, who is reportedly refusing to move out of his luxury Baltimore home after it sold for $3.24 million at a foreclosure auction.
Investor Sam Asghari snapped up a huge waterfront property on a pier stretching out into the Patapsco River at a bargain price at an auction in Baltimore Circuit Court.
But what seemed like smooth sailing quickly turned into a headache as the troubled actor reportedly wouldn’t hand over the keys.
“So far, he is refusing to leave,” Asgari told the Baltimore Banner. “He’s demanding six months to vacate the property without paying anything.”
Asghari added that he had been forced to negotiate with Spacey’s lawyers after Spacey refused to leave.
But Spacey’s lawyer, Edward U. Lee III, refuted those claims.
“Mr Asghari’s accusations are false,” Lee told the outlet simply.
The Washington Post has reached out to Lee directly for further comment.
The 9,000-square-foot mansion, once called “the most amazing house in Baltimore,” was Spacey’s primary residence during a tumultuous period after he was fired from the hit Netflix show “House of Cards” following multiple sexual assault allegations.
The “American Beauty” actor purchased the home in 2017 for a whopping $5.65 million, making Asghari’s purchase a bargain, but problems began to arise.
Asghari, who made local headlines earlier this year when he purchased the childhood home of Baltimore legend Johns Hopkins, had reportedly been trying to take ownership of the property for nearly three weeks but ended up embroiled in a legal battle with Spacey’s team.
Asghari’s purchase was secured with a $100,000 deposit. If the court approves the sale, he could begin eviction proceedings, possibly with the help of sheriff’s deputies.
“The sale of Mr. Spacey’s home marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for this iconic home,” Sam Sheibani of Compass, which previously listed the house for sale, told The Washington Post.
“This transaction is not only a landmark in real estate, but also a reflection of Baltimore’s deep history and unique architecture,” Shaibani said. “We are excited to see what mark the potential new owner will make on this piece of Baltimore history.”
Spacey’s refusal to leave is just the latest chapter in a series of financial woes for the fading star.
During a tearful interview with Piers Morgan in June, Spacey confessed that he “doesn’t know where I’m going to live anymore,” and acknowledged that he was drowning in debt, unable to pay legal fees and forced to move his belongings into storage.
The mansion was foreclosed on after Spacey fell behind on his monthly mortgage payments of $20,230, an amount he had struggled to maintain following his firing from “House of Cards” and the ensuing legal battle.
A jury sided with Spacey in the high-profile trial in Manhattan, but a London jury acquitted him of sexual assault charges just nine months ago.
As Spacey continues his fight to protect his home, a two-part documentary now streaming on Max called “Spacey Unmasked” delves into his past, something the actor has publicly criticized as unfair.
While Spacey has celebrity friends such as Sharon Stone and Liam Neeson lining up, his future – and his residency status – remains up in the air.
Spacey keeps a low profile in Baltimore, where locals occasionally spot the star walking his dog or enjoying a meal at the posh Sagamore Pendry Hotel.
But with eviction looming, Spacey may soon be singing the blues, perhaps even returning to the stage at Baltimore’s Keystone Corner Jazz Club, where he once performed unannounced.