Actress Asia Argento on Tuesday denied allegations that she sexually assaulted a young actor when he was 17 but acknowledged that a settlement was paid to him to avoid a public spectacle.
"I am deeply shocked and hurt by having read news that is absolutely false. I have never had any sexual relationship with (Jimmy) Bennett," Argento said in a statement issued to the Guardian and the Huffington Post.
Argento responded to a story published by the New York Times that said she had sex with and performed a sex act on Bennett at a Marina del Rey hotel in November 2013, when he was 17. The story, which was based on leaked documents, said that Argento paid Bennett $380,000 for photos of them together in the room. That sum was paid after Bennett's lawyer filed a notice of intent to sue.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is now investigating the allegation of sex with a minor.
Argento wrote that Bennett made the claims after she made her own allegations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein last year. Argento accused Weinstein of raping her in 1997. Weinstein has denied the allegation.
"Subsequent to my exposure in the Weinstein case, Bennett _ who was then undergoing severe economic problems and who had previously undertaken legal actions against his own family requesting millions in damages _ unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me," she stated
Argento said her partner _ television personality Anthony Bourdain, who died in June _ had pushed for the settlement.
"Bennett knew my boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, was a man of great perceived wealth, and had his own reputation as a beloved public figure to protect. Anthony insisted the matter be handled privately and this was also what Bennett wanted. Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such a person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us," Argento said.
"We decided to deal compassionately with Bennett's demand for help and give it to him. Anthony personally undertook to help Bennett economically, upon the condition that we would no longer suffer any further intrusions in our life."
