Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer has accused Asia Argento of “hypocrisy” following reports the #MeToo activist settled an accusation of assault made against her by a former child actor.
Italian actor-director Argento – who was one of 13 women to be featured in the first report detailing the alleged sexual harassment and assault history of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein – now faces her own accusation, according to a report in the New York Times.
The documents claim that Argento agreed to pay musician Jimmy Bennett a total of $380,000 over the course of a year and a half after allegedly sexually assaulting him in a California hotel room when he was just over the age of 17 years old in 2013. The state’s legal age of consent is 18.
According to the report, Argento gave Bennett alcohol before the alleged sexual assault which is said to have included intercourse and oral sex.
“This development reveals a stunning level of hypocrisy by Asia Argento,” said Weinstein’s attorney, Benjamin Brafman, in a statement to ABC News. “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 documents report that Bennett was initially planning to sue Argento for $3.5m in damages citing emotional distress, lost wages and assault. He claims that his income dropped from $2.7m to $60,000 following the alleged incident which is said to have occurred after he played her son in 2004 film The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things. Argento’s then-lawyer was Richard Hofstetter, the attorney of her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain.
Bennett’s lawyer told AP that he “does not wish to comment on the documents or the events” at this time.
Representatives for Argento did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rose McGowan, another leader of the #MeToo movement, responded to the reports on social media, writing: "My heart is broken. I will continue my work on behalf of victims everywhere.”
