Why Asia Argento's #MeToo Story Is Still Valid Following Assault Allegations
Last night, the New York Times reported that actress and #MeToo campaigner Asia Argento recently settled claims that she sexually assaulted actor Jimmy Bennett in 2013, when he was a minor.
Last October, when sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein hit international news headlines, Argento came out with her own claims of abuse by the film mogul.
In the weeks that followed, she joined a legion of male and female advocates of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged people to speak about their own experiences of assault and harassment.
Weinstein has 'unequivocally denied' any allegations of non-consensual sex.
The NYT reports Argento was also then accused of a sexual assault, which reportedly took place in 2013. The Italian star - who was the girlfriend of the late TV chef Anthony Bourdain - had starred as Bennett's mother in the 2004 film The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
Described as a 'mentor and a mother figure' to the actor - who was a minor and aged 17 at the time - it's alleged Argento gave the actor alcohol before the assault took place in a hotel room.
She reportedly agreed to pay the actor £297,000 ($380,000) in a settlement following Bennett's request for damages last November, though she never had him sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Since news of Argento's alleged assault against Bennett came to light, The Cut reported that several Twitter users have suggested the new accusation undermines the #MeToo movement and makes the actress a hypocrite.
.@EmilyJReports
Grooming, drugging, then sexually assaulting does not make Argento “a hypocrite”, it makes her a rapist.- The Kirk Unit 🏳️🌈 (@KirkCruz) August 20, 2018
Next on CNN: Asia Argento will debate herself on her two points of view on the #MeToo movement.
- DeadPan (@StoicSarcasm) August 20, 2018
Thanks for showing your hypocrisy and double standards. Fuck the #metoo bullshit it's just a bunch of men hating femnazis
- Brandon (@420BrandonJ) August 20, 2018
It’s a betrayal of her #metoo leadership. No way to sugarcoat premeditated & Incestuous rape. She internalized the patriarchy’s tropes, emulated her abuser. I can’t imagine how it affected Bourdain’s state of mind. It’s devastating.
- Eurydice (@EurydiceEve) August 20, 2018
The accusations brought by Bennett against Argento are terrible and have just as much validity as Argento's allegations involving Weinstein.
Whatever happens in the Asia Argento case doesnt take away from the fact Harvey Weinstein and many powerful men have preyed upon women, abused them, exploited them and have had their sins covered and buried, but now society is waking up and saying no more.
- Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) August 20, 2018
Someone can also be a victim and a perpetrator, and we can sympathize for their victimization in both cases.
- America...you're in danger, girl (@OverUnderClover) August 20, 2018
Cynical people are going to use individual examples of women’s bad behavior to argue that sexual harassment and assault are not part of structural misogyny, even that such abuses have no gender at all. Ignore these people; they have little interest in justice. pic.twitter.com/IJRne9fwfZ
- Moira Donegan (@MoiraDonegan) August 20, 2018
This revelation about Asia Argento doesn't undermine the #MeToo movement. It shows that rape causes damage that reverberates through the world in incalculable ways. That doesn't mean what she did isn't utterly fucked up, or that she shouldn't be held accountable.
- Emily H. Johnson (@EmilyJReports) August 20, 2018
Before people go off on this story, both of these things can be true:
-Asia Argento sexually assaulted a minor
-She was assaulted by Weinstein
Neither of these things negate the other and neither of these behaviors are acceptable. Both should face consequences. https://t.co/wv0PqBYWcR- Sarah #StopKavanaugh (@BookishFeminist) August 20, 2018
re; Asia Argento:
1. I believe she assaulted Jimmy Bennett.
2. I also believe that Harvey Weinstein assaulted her.
3. People of all genders can be and are assaulted.
4. #MeToo is about all victims of sexual assault. It's not about one survivor or one criminal.- ☪️ Sha Naqba Īmuru ✡️ (@JShahryar) August 20, 2018
It is possible to be both alleged perpetrator and victim.
Instead of Argento's case being used as canon fodder for #MeToo naysayers, it should serve as a reminder of the importance of listening to, respecting and taking seriously the stories of sexual assault and harassment from all survivors, no matter how uncomfortable or shocking.
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