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Original poster

Asia Argento

62 replies

Beaverhausen · 21/08/2018 08:19

So over the past few weeks it has come to light that two of Harvey Weinsteins accusers credibility is in question.

There was one whose emails has been released to the authorities and media where she declares her undying love to him and wanting to see him etc and that she does not want to feel like a "booty call".

And then this past week Asia Argento who paid an Actor $380 000 hush money for sexually assaulting when he was 17 years old. She was one of the main instigators of the #Metoo movement.

I am not saying that women have lied about their experiences with this vile man but what I am saying is that it is kind of making a mockery of it if there are women who have lied for their own gain.

Surely it will put into question the case against him if this is all starting to come to light and this man might not pay for what he has done to women in the past.

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Original poster
Beaverhausen · 22/08/2018 22:23

Rita darling you are entitled to your opinion, but one I have come to expect from you if your other posts are anything to go by. You clearly have a severe dislike for men and see women as victims so not going to argue with you.

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maxthemartian · 23/08/2018 08:01

So to clarify, what occurred would not have been illegal had it taken place in a different state or the UK, and he then blackmailed her? Or am I missing something?

ShatnersWig · 23/08/2018 08:09

@maxthemartian It's actually quite simple if you read the news reports.

  1. Asia Argento alleged she was raped by Harvey Weinstein and along with Rose McGowan became the two main faces of the MeToo movement about calling out sexual abusers in Hollywood and the film industry. Their language often very inflammatory (understandably) and the constant cry is "believe the accuser"

  2. Asia Argento's partner, who committed suicide shortly afterwards (makes you wonder why), paid off Jimmy Bennett who contacted them about what he felt was sexual abuse of him by Asia Argento when he was 17 and she was 37.

  3. Asia Argento denied ever having sex with Jimmy Bennett and sort of threw her ex-partner under the bus and said he was the one who paid him off and that actually it was extortion (so why pay him off it it wasn't true?)

  4. A photo surfaces of Asia and Jimmy in bed, clearly topless, from precisely the time he claims.

  5. Texts surfaces which, if they are genuine, clearly shows Asia did sleep with him when he was 17 which is illegal in California. She claims not to know how young he was, yet she filmed with him when he was 7.

  6. Tweets from Asia's account from long ago show some really dubious tweets about Jimmy in light of what has come to the fore and could very definitely appear like she was grooming him all the time.

  7. Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette, instead of following their own much chanted mantra when it comes to male abusers, don't "believe the accuser" but support Asia and the former urges people to "be gentle" which is totally the opposite of what they have said should be the case with men who are accused.

Yes, in another state it would have been perfectly legal for a 37-year old woman to have slept with a 17-year old teenage boy. But it's actually about much more than that.

Original poster
Beaverhausen · 23/08/2018 08:09

Yes in the state of California where it took place the age of sexual consent is 18.

www.theguardian.com/film/2018/aug/22/jimmy-bennett-speaks-out-after-asia-argento-denies-accusations-of-assault

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Mrbatmun · 23/08/2018 09:00

The age of consent thing is a bit of a red herring though isn't it? Otherwise I'm sure pretty much every woman (and man!) in Hollywood could come forward and say they were raped because they had sex under 18.

This is more about Argento lying and changing her story, the fact she knew him from a young age and there was possible grooming, and her stance on the #metoo thing: not in terms of actually being assaulted by Weinstein, as her own actions don't cancel out his wrongdoing, but the stance of always believing the accuser etc.

MozzieMagnet · 23/08/2018 13:11

Yes.

I have issues with a 20 year age gap at that age in any case - step forward Brigitte Macron - whether an older woman/young man or older man/young woman, it nonetheless feels predatory to me.

But the main thing here is the double-standard and the hypocrisy.
You cannot step forward as a figurehead for outing abusers having just paid off someone who believes you abused him.

CheeseTheDay · 23/08/2018 13:29

@maxthemartian - Bennett didn't blackmail Argento, he initiated legal proceedings, as was his right. His lawyer sent her's a letter, informing her of his intent to sue. The letter states that Bennett suffered emotional problems, due to what happened, and this has affected his ability to work, and therefore earn money. Argento's partner, Anthony Bourdain, then offered a settlement, to prevent it going to court.

ShatnersWig · 23/08/2018 13:34

Alyssa Milano, another of the most vocal MeToo voices, has come out saying things like - as have other women - "I think that people that have been abused can also be abusers, and that's a sad fact"

I don't recall them saying that about any of the male abusers or alleged male abusers they've been calling out. The difference in approach now that a woman, and one of their own, is being held up for her behaviour - which does not for one minute put her on the scale of Harvey Weinstein - is so stunning in its hypocrisy I simply can't fathom how they don't see it for themselves.

Original poster
Beaverhausen · 23/08/2018 16:15

@MozzieMagnet thank you you have hit the nail on the head.

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