Weinstein accuser ‘paid off male co-star over sex claim’
ASIA ARGENTO, the Italian actress who became a leading figure in the #Metoo movement after accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, reportedly settled in secret a claim of sexual misconduct from a man 20 years her junior.
Argento was accused of assaulting Jimmy Bennett, who rose to prominence as a child actor, in a California hotel room in 2013, according to legal documents seen by the New York Times. She was 37 at the time while Bennett was just 17 years and two months old. The age of consent in California is 18. The pair had starred in a film together in 2004, with Bennett playing the role of Argento’s son in The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
According to the newspaper, Argento agreed to pay Bennett $380,000 (£298,000) on the proviso that a photograph showing the pair lying in bed on the day of the alleged incident was not made public.
Argento is yet to comment on the claims. The Daily Telegraph approached her representatives yesterday but did not get a response about the allegations.
It has raised serious questions for an actress who has become a champion of the campaign against sexual harassment in Holywood and across the world.
Argento became one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein, the film producer, of sexual assault, going on the record last year for an article in The New Yorker magazine.
She accused Weinstein of rape, describing how he forcibly performed oral sex on her in a hotel room. Her account, alongside numerous other women who talked to The New Yorker and The New York Times, kick-started the anti-harass- ment #Metoo movement. Weinstein is now facing sexual assault charges in New York including first-degree rape, none of which relate to Argento. He has pleaded not guilty. Weinstein has also more widely denied claims of non-consensual sex.
Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein’s lawyer, said the development was “stunning”. “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.
“The sheer duplicity of her conduct is quite extraordinary,” he said.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that it had been sent legal documents anonymously about an allegation of sexual assault made against Argento by Bennett.
The legal documents detail what happened when the two actors met in a California hotel room on May 9 2013, when Mr Bennett was 17. The pair had stayed in touch over the years and referred to each other as mother and son in online posts.
On the day of meeting, Argento wrote on Instagram: “Waiting for my long lost son my love @jimmymbennett in trepidation.” Bennett responded: “I’m almost there!:) 5 min.” According to legal documents quoted by The New York Times which lay out Bennett’s account, a family member drove him to the hotel room but was asked to leave by Argento.
When they were alone she gave him alcohol, kissed him and pushed him onto the bed before performing oral sex, the documents reportedly claim, and then having intercourse. Later that day Ms Argento posted a photo of their faces on Instagram with the caption “happiest day of my life reunion with @ jimmymbennett xox”. The legal documents are said to claim that other photographs were also taken, after a request from Argento, showing the pair in bed.
Last year Bennett approached Argento and asked for $3.5 million in damages after she went public over Weinstein, according to The New York Times. The claim reportedly cited emotional distress, lost wages, assault and battery. An agreement of $380,000 was reported to have been reached where Bennett, now 22, agreed to give Argento, now 42, a photograph of them lying in bed and its copyright.
This newspaper has not seen the legal documents and approached Argento’s representatives, but was not given a comment. Other US media groups said they had not received a response to the claims.
Rose Mcgowan, a fellow actress who also accused Weinstein of rape, responded to the allegations by tweeting: “My heart is broken. I will continue my work on behalf of victims everywhere.”