#MeToo leader paid hush money to man who accused her of sexual harassment
Asia Argento, a prominent Weinstein accuser, allegedly assaulted a 17-year-old in 2013
Italian actress Asia Argento -- shown during the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival in May -- paid $380,000 to a man who claims she sexually assaulted him when he was 17, The New York Times reported PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON:
Italian actor Asia Argento, who became a leading figure in the #MeToo movement after accusing powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, paid hush money to a man who claimed she sexually assaulted him when he was 17, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Weinstein charged with rape, sex crime in New York
The $380,000 payment was made to Jimmy Bennett, an actor and rock musician, who claimed Argento assaulted him in a California hotel room in 2013, according to the Times, which cited documents sent to the paper by an unidentified party.
Bennett was two months past his 17th birthday at the time of the alleged encounter while Argento was 37. The legal age of consent in California is 18.
The newspaper said it had tried repeatedly without success to get a comment on the matter from Argento and her representatives.
The terms of the deal including a payment schedule were finalised in April this year, according to the documents seen by the Times.
Three people familiar with the case told the paper the documents were authentic.
Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape, sex assault charges
Argento's lawyer Carrie Goldberg described the money as "helping Mr Bennett," lamenting that the actor had to deal with people "who preyed on both your strengths and your weaknesses."
Bennett's lawyers had characterised the hotel encounter as a "sexual battery" that traumatised the former child actor, threatening his mental health and income.
His notice of intent to sue sought $3.5 million in damages for "intentional infliction of emotional distress, lost wages, assault and battery," the paper said.
Argento became a powerful voice for the #MeToo movement after accusing Weinstein of raping her when she was 21 in his hotel room in 1997 during the Cannes film festival.
Harvey Weinstein expected to surrender himself on assault charges
Bennett's legal action was launched a month after Argento's accusations against Weinstein were made public, the Times said.
She made an emotional speech at this year's festival, telling the audience, "Things have changed. We are not going to allow you to get away with it."
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Italian actor Asia Argento, who became a leading figure in the #MeToo movement after accusing powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, paid hush money to a man who claimed she sexually assaulted him when he was 17, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Weinstein charged with rape, sex crime in New York
The $380,000 payment was made to Jimmy Bennett, an actor and rock musician, who claimed Argento assaulted him in a California hotel room in 2013, according to the Times, which cited documents sent to the paper by an unidentified party.
Bennett was two months past his 17th birthday at the time of the alleged encounter while Argento was 37. The legal age of consent in California is 18.
The newspaper said it had tried repeatedly without success to get a comment on the matter from Argento and her representatives.
The terms of the deal including a payment schedule were finalised in April this year, according to the documents seen by the Times.
Three people familiar with the case told the paper the documents were authentic.
Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to rape, sex assault charges
Argento's lawyer Carrie Goldberg described the money as "helping Mr Bennett," lamenting that the actor had to deal with people "who preyed on both your strengths and your weaknesses."
Bennett's lawyers had characterised the hotel encounter as a "sexual battery" that traumatised the former child actor, threatening his mental health and income.
His notice of intent to sue sought $3.5 million in damages for "intentional infliction of emotional distress, lost wages, assault and battery," the paper said.
Argento became a powerful voice for the #MeToo movement after accusing Weinstein of raping her when she was 21 in his hotel room in 1997 during the Cannes film festival.
Harvey Weinstein expected to surrender himself on assault charges
Bennett's legal action was launched a month after Argento's accusations against Weinstein were made public, the Times said.
She made an emotional speech at this year's festival, telling the audience, "Things have changed. We are not going to allow you to get away with it."
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.