In the aftermath of her allegations against Harvey Weinstein, actress Asia Argento made headlines again for settling with a sexual assault accuser. According to a revealing report from a prominent news outlet, Argento agreed to pay $380,000 to a young actor who claimed she assaulted him when he was just 17 years old. The actor, now 22, identified as Jamie Bennett, stated that the incident occurred in a hotel room in California shortly after his birthday, while Argento was 37. Notably, California’s age of consent is 18.
Bennett had previously starred as Argento’s son in a film, which led to their initial meeting. The report included documentation supporting Bennett’s allegations, including an encrypted email and a selfie of the two together in bed, dated May 9, 2013. As part of the settlement, Argento received the rights to this photograph.
Argento’s attorney, Cara Goldstein, wrote a letter confirming the details of the settlement, describing the payment as something that would “assist” Bennett. She expressed hope that he would not face similar situations in the future and praised Argento as a talented and inspiring figure. Bennett’s legal team had previously sent a notice of intent to sue, claiming that the fallout from the incident significantly impacted his earning potential, dropping from an average of $2.7 million in five years before 2013 to about $60,000 afterwards.
The day of the incident, Argento had posted on social media about Bennett, describing their meeting as a “reunion.” According to Bennett, he arrived at the hotel with a family member due to a vision impairment that prevents him from driving. Once there, Argento allegedly asked the family member to leave, served him drinks, and initiated sexual contact, which progressed to intercourse, all while he was still a minor. Bennett later recounted feelings of confusion and disgust.
Despite being one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of assault and advocate for the #MeToo movement, Argento now faces criticism. Detractors argue that her alleged actions against Bennett undermine the movement. However, it’s crucial to recognize that both her experiences with Weinstein and the allegations against her can coexist. The trauma experienced by Bennett should not negate Argento’s past victimization, nor does her alleged abuse of power invalidate the voices of other survivors.
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In summary, Asia Argento’s settlement with Jamie Bennett has reignited discussions about accountability in the wake of the #MeToo movement, highlighting the complexities of victimhood and power dynamics. Both Argento and Bennett’s experiences shed light on the multifaceted nature of sexual abuse.
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