Asia Argento has denied the sexual assault allegations levied against her by former child actor Jimmy Bennett. Argento said that she never had “any sexual relationship” with Bennett, who accused her of molesting him when he was a minor. Argento also said that her former boyfriend, the late Anthony Bourdain, urged her to agree to a financial settlement to end Bennett’s “long-standing persecution of her,” reports Variety.
In a statements first reported by journalist Yashar Ali, Argento said that Bennett was “considered dangerous” by Bourdain and that a $380,000 payout to him was a way “to deal compassionately with Bennett’s demand for help.” Argento said the actor had “unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money” from her.
I just received this statement from @AsiaArgento in response to the NYT story published late Sunday evening. pic.twitter.com/jAOo7TAULX
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) August 21, 2018
The statement continues, saying that she was “deeply shocked and hurt by having read news that is absolutely false,” referring to the report in The New York Times that detailed the settlement and Bennett’s allegations.
Argento has been one of the harshest accusers of disgraced media mogul Harvey Weinstein and one of the most outspoken critics of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.
This is the speech I wrote and spoke out loud tonight at Cannes. For all the brave women who came forward denouncing their predators, and for all the brave women who will come forward in the future. We got the power #metoo pic.twitter.com/ttJN1pNFxR
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) May 19, 2018
She did not dispute the specific details of the reported $380,000 payout, reports Variety, but she did said that both the settlement and the exposure are “the umpteenth development of a sequence of events that brings me great sadness and that constitutes a long-standing persecution.”
People on social media are already responding strongly to Argento’s statement.
Blaming the person who can no longer speak for themselves is lower than low @AsiaArgento it truly speaks volumes about your lack of character or regard for someone who staunchly stood by you and defended you. https://t.co/txaPDSIgHy
— Rivya (@Serend1p1ty9) August 21, 2018
Asia Argento joins the list of complete pieces of shit along with Rose McGowan.
How the fuck are you gonna pass the blame on someone who died by suicide therefore can’t defend himself and was never even mentioned in court documents to begin with. I can’t. https://t.co/JIUqoM8e7E
— _________ (@ZayaLawry) August 21, 2018
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