Who Is Asia Argento, Woman Allegedly Raped By Harvey Weinstein?
“Marie Antoinette” actress Asia Argento accused Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein of raping her in a bombshell interview published by The New Yorker Tuesday. The Italian star claimed the sexual assaulted occurred at a 1997 Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc party hosted by Miramax.
“I’ve been damaged. Just talking to you about it, my whole body is shaking. I know the damage is there, and will continue to be there,” she told the publication Tuesday.
Weinstein reportedly led her to an empty hotel room and asked Argento to give him a massage. She agreed — reluctantly.
“He asks me to give a massage. I was, like, ‘Look man, I am no f---ing fool,’” said Argento, who was 21 years old at the time. “But, looking back, I am a f---ing fool. And I am still trying to come to grips with what happened,” she told the New Yorker Tuesday.
She was unable to get Weinstein to stop performing oral sex on her — even though she told him to stop — because he overpowered her.
“It wouldn’t stop. It was a nightmare,” Argento, who is the daughter of famous Italian director Dario Argento, said.
When the alleged attack was over, Argento told him, “I am not a whore.” But Weinstein supposedly laughed in her face, saying he would put that on a shirt.
By Tuesday, three women claimed they were raped by Weinstein. At least 13 said they were sexually harassed or assaulted.
Weinstein offered Argento lavish gifts after the alleged attack. She admitted to having consensual relations with Weinstein after the supposed rape because she was afraid Weinstein might ruin her career if she didn’t consent.
In “Scarlet Diva,” a film to wrote, she penned a scene that was similar to the one she supposedly experienced in real life with Weinstein. But there’s one major difference: Argento isn’t a victim of Weinstein’s advance.
“In the movie I wrote, I ran away,” Argento told the New Yorker.
Since the alleged rape, Argento hasn’t been the same. “When I see him, it makes me feel little and stupid and weak,” said Argento. “After the rape, he won.”
The actress, who is now 42, was vocal on social media after the New Yorker article dropped, retweeting messages from people who supported her.
She slammed fashion designer Donna Karan, who said Weinstein’s alleged victims were “asking for it.”
“Donna Karan you are a DEPLORABLE Aiding and abetting is a moral crime. You are scum in a fancy dress,” actress Rose McGowan wrote. Argento retweeted the former “Charmed” star Monday and added: “Rose speaks the truth. Bow down to her sword of fire. #truewarrior”
Argento’s boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, came out in defense of his girlfriend, sharing an ad from Karan’s fashion empire. “To @dkny How many seventeen year olds have you dressed like they are, in your words, asking for it?’”
Argento added in a tweet of her own: “You will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”
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