CNN Pulls Asia Argento Episodes of 'Parts Unknown'
by EG
CNN will no longer stream episodes of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown that feature Asia Argento after Argenton has been accused of sexual assault. The rest of the series will still be available, however, despite the fact that Argento claims Bourdain is the one who paid hush money to Argento's accuser. Read on for details.
Via People.
CNN has stopped streaming episodes of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown that include Asia Argento after a sexual assault allegation was made against her.
“In light of the recent news reports about Asia Argento, CNN will discontinue airing past episodes of Parts Unknown that included her, until further notice,” a CNN spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
Argento, 42, appeared in the Rome and Southern Italy episodes of the show and directed a Hong Kong episode, during which Bourdain said, “To fall in love with Asia is one thing. To fall in love in Asia is another. Both have happened to me.”
A Buenos Aires episode, which did not feature Argento, was also removed from CNN Go for unspecified reasons, according to BuzzFeed News which was first to report.
The New York Times previously reported that Argento reached a $380,000 financial settlement with Jimmy Bennett, who claimed that Argento had sexual intercourse with him when he was underage at 17.
Argento denied the allegation. “I strongly deny and oppose the contents of the New York Times article,” she wrote 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.”
Argento stated that Bourdain, her late boyfriend, paid off Bennett when he “unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me” after she accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.
Get the rest of the story at People.
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