Hindustan Times (Patna) - Hindustan Times (Patna) - Live
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer blasts Asia Argento’s ‘hypocrisy’
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer has slammed Italian actor-director Asia Argento, following a report that she had settled a sexual abuse claim brought by actorsinger James Bennett.
Argento was one of Weinstein’s initial accusers revealing to The New Yorker that he forcibly performed oral sex on her 20 years ago.
She has also been one of the vocal advocates of the #MeToo movement.
The New York Times, on Sunday, reported that Argento arranged to pay $3,80,000 to Bennett, who claimed she sexually assaulted him in 2013 when he was 17 and Argento was 37.
Weinstein’s attorney, Ben Brafman, said in a statement to TMZ that the revelations about Argento undermine her claims against Weinstein.
“This development reveals a stunning level of hypocrisy by Asia Argento, one of the most vocal catalysts who sought to destroy Harvey Weinstein,” read the statement.
“What is perhaps most egregious is the timing, which suggests that at the very same time Argento was working on her own secret settlement for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor, she was positioning herself at the forefront of those condemning Mr Weinstein, despite the fact that her sexual relationship with Mr Weinstein was between two consenting adults which lasted for more than four years,” further read the statement.
Argento did not sue Weinstein and her allegations against him are not being used in his planned trial.