Top Hollywood producer stands accused of rape
ITALIAN film star Asia Argento and two other women claim that disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had raped them, in a bombshell New Yorker exposé published on Tuesday.
The women’s allegations against the 65-year-old movie mogul, according to the magazine, include unwanted oral sex and forced oral and full sex. Weinstein denies all charges, according to a statement from his spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister, circulated among US media.
The accusations will be seen as a hugely damaging escalation of the scandal engulfing the Oscar-winning producer, as the numerous allegations which led to his weekend sacking from The Weinstein Company had so far been limited to complaints about harassment.
New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow spent 10 months interviewing 13 women who reported they had been harassed or assaulted by Weinstein.
The investigation was published as fresh misconduct allegations emerged from Hollywood A-listers such as Angelina Jolie, Rosanna Arquette and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Argento, the 42-year-old daughter of iconic horror director Dario Argento, said Weinstein had forced oral sex on her 20 years ago. She told the publication she had maintained her silence until now for fear that Weinstein would crush her, adding: “I know he has crushed a lot of people before.”
She said Weinstein, who has weighed up to 136kg, terrified her due to his immense size.
“It wouldn’t stop. It was a nightmare,” she added, revealing that she had felt forced to pretend she was enjoying the attack in hope that would be over with sooner.
Argento acknowledges that her credibility may be compromised by the fact that she eventually yielded to his advances, even growing close to him and having consensual sex with him multiple times over the following five years.
Lucia Evans, an aspiring actress, said Weinstein had forced her to perform oral sex on him.
“I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinst former Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said, while former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said they were disgusted at the longtime Democratic Party donor. — AFP it