Asia Argento Fired from 'X Factor: Italy' Over Sexual Assault Allegations
by EG
Asia Argento is denying the allegation that she had sex with an underage boy, but she got fired from her job on The X Factor anyway. The outspoken advocate for sexual abuse victims is suddenly on the other end of the movement against tolerance of sexual misconduct. Read on for details.
Via People.
Asia Argento has been dropped as a judge on the latest season of X Factor Italy after facing sexual assault allegations earlier this month, multiple outlets have reported.
The Italian actress and singer, 42, will still appear in the first seven episodes of the show which covered the auditions, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Argento will then be replaced by a new judge when the show starts airing live on Oct. 25. The show starts airing on Sept. 6.
This is the speech I wrote and spoke out loud tonight at Cannes. For all the brave women who came forward denouncing their predators, and for all the brave women who will come forward in the future. We got the power #metoo pic.twitter.com/ttJN1pNFxR
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) May 19, 2018
Allegations of sexual assault against Argento were first brought to light by a report in the New York Times, which claimed former child actor Jimmy Bennett had accused the actress of assault last fall in a letter sent to Argento and her late boyfriend Anthony Bourdain. Bennett alleged that Argento kissed him before performing oral sex on him and engaging in intercourse at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey, California when he was 17, according to the Times.
In a statement released days after the report, Argento denied having any sexual relationship with Bennett.
“I strongly deny and oppose the contents of the New York Times article,” she said in a statement to journalist Yashar Ali. “I am deeply shocked and hurt by having read news that is absolutely false. I have never had any sexual relationship with Bennett.”
Instead, Agento said the two only had a friendship which ended last fall when Bennett “unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me” following her public accusation of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein. The actress said Bennett reached out knowing her boyfriend Bourdain, who died by suicide in June at 61, was “a man of great perceived wealth” and the late chef decided to handle the matter quietly.
Get the rest of the story at People.
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