#Metoo Activist Asia Argento Settles Her Own Sexual Assault Case By Paying the Victim USD 380K

Italian actress Asia Argento who was at the forefront of #MeToo movement reportedly paid off a young actor who accused her of sexually assaulting him in 2013. Argento had been a vociferous activist for the #MeToo movement and had publically denounced Hollywood sexual predator Harvey Weinstein. At Cannes 2018, she stated that Weinstein had raped her. And shortly after she made the admission, she found herself being accused of sexual assault by a young actor when he was 17 and she was 37.

The actor Jimmy Bennet, now 22, recounted how Argento had sex with him in a Ritz-Carlton hotel in 2018 when he was under-aged. The legal documents of the case were obtained by The New York Times where they say that Argento gave him alcohol and pulled his pants off for oral sex and intercourse. From #Metoo to #WomensMarch top trends on social media that strengthened womanhood

The Times noted that she had uploaded a photo on Instagram with the two of them on the same day with the caption: “Happiest day of my life reunion with @jimmymbennett xox. He described how his encounter with Argento in the hotel room affected his emotional health and his career.

Argento, now 42, has now settled the accusation from Bennet for the sum of $380,000, which will be paid over the course of a year and a half. Vareity.com reports that the claim and resulting discussions of the payment are included in the documents between Argento’s and Bennett’s lawyers. Harvey Weinstein To Surrender To Police, While Morgan Freeman Latest Hollywood Giant To Be Accused of Sexual Harassment

Carrie Goldberg, Argento’s lawyer who handled the settlement described the money as “helping Mr Bennett.” "We hope nothing like this ever happens to you again. You are a powerful and inspiring creator and it is a miserable condition of life that you live among s--y individuals who've preyed on both your strengths and your weaknesses," Goldberg wrote.

Actress Rose McGowan who has been close to Argento expressed her shock and dismay but failed to point any fingers at her associate.

Here’s her tweet:

Argento was also TV presenter and Chef Anthony Bourdain’s girlfriend at the time of his suicide in early June 2018. The celebrated food critic was steadfast in his support for Argento and had publically criticised Weinstein. He had once famously imagined the predatory Hollywood mogul’s death in his final interview. He suggested that Weinstein will have a massive stroke while brushing his teeth, and he’d stumble back scrolling through his contact list, trying to figure out whom he can call. Bourdain said that Weinstein knowing that no one will help him in his last moment, not looking his best would be a befitting end for him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2018 06:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).