An ugly war of words has erupted between Guy Pearce and his Kevin Spacey after the Australian actor claimed he was targeted by his former co-star on the set of LA Confidential.

Pearce, 57, who is nominated for an Oscar for his performance in The Brutalist, said Spacey harassed him for months on the set of the 1997 movie, which also starred Russell Crowe.

He previously declared Spacey – whose career went into freefall after he was accused of sexual misconduct by several men – was “handsy” when they worked together .

“Even though I probably was a victim to a degree; I was certainly not a victim by any means to the extent that other people have been to sexual predators,” Pearce told The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, explaining his reluctance to describe himself as a victim.

“I did that for five months, and really I was sort of scared of Kevin because he’s quite an aggressive man … I was young and susceptible, and he targeted me, no question.”

In a remarkable reply, the 65-year-old Spacey took to social media Wednesday, posting a video in which he told Pearce to “gow up”.

“Guy Pearce, I’ve now read the comments that you made about me and while I would have preferred not to have to play this out in the media, you obviously have your own reasons for wanting to do exactly that,” he said in a video posted to  X. 

La Confidential was a breakout movie for Pearce and Crowe. Photo: Warner Bros

“But we worked together a long time ago you know? If I did something then that upset you, you could’ve reached out to me. We could’ve had that conversation,” he continued. 

“Instead, you’ve decided to speak to the press, who are now coming after me because they would like to know what my response is to the things that you’ve said.

“You really want to know what my response is? Grow up.”

Spacey also claimed that Pearce flew to the US state of Georgia the year after they made LA Confidential “just to spend time with me” while he was making Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

He also questioned why his former co-star took so long to voice his concerns.

“Here you are now on a mission some 28 years later, after I’ve been through hell and back, to do what?” said the actor, who was acquitted by a jury of sexual assault charges in 2023.

“I’ve got nothing to hide. But Guy, you need to grow up. You are not a victim.”

In 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making sexual advances towards him when he was 14, Pearce “broke down and sobbed” when he realised how much he had been affected.

“I was in London working on something, and I heard (the reports) and I broke down and sobbed, and I couldn’t stop,” he said.

“I think it really dawned on me the impact that had occurred and how I sort of brushed it off and how I had either shelved it or blocked it out or whatever. That was a really incredible wake-up call.”

Pearce admitted he has since “had a couple of confrontations” with Spacey that “got ugly” but didn’t share details.

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-with AAP