Asia Argento denies sexual assault allegations, says Anthony Bourdain sent hush payment

A report in the New York Times earlier this week uncovered a secret hush payment made to former child actor, Jimmy Bennett, who had accused his former co-star, Asia Argento, of sexually assaulting him in 2013, when he was 17 years old.

Argento has now responded to the allegations. In an issued statement, Argento called the allegations “absolutely false” and denied ever having a sexual relationship with Bennett. She accused Bennett of extortion and said that her late boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, took it upon himself to handle to “deal compassionately with Bennett’s demand for help and give it to him.”

“Bennett – who was then undergoing severe economic problems and who had previously untaken legal actions against his own family requesting millions in damages — unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me,” Argento said in her statement.

“Anthony insisted the matter be handled privately and this was also what Bennett wanted. Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us. We decided to deal compassionately with Bennett’s demand for help and give it to him. Anthony personally undertook to help Bennett economically, upon the condition that he would no longer suffer any further instructions in our life.”

“This is, therefore, the umpteenth development of a sequence of events that brings me great sadness and that continues a long-standing persecution. I have therefore no other choice but to oppose such false allegations and will assume in the short term all necessary initiatives for my protection before all competent venues.”

This is a developing story…