Asia Argento will be cut as a judge on “X-Factor Italy” if the sexual assault claim detailed in the New York Times is “confirmed…
Asia Argento will be cut as a judge on “X-Factor Italy” if the sexual assault claim detailed in the New York Times is “confirmed,” producers say.
“Sky Italia and FremantleMedia Italia have read today with great attention and in astonishment the news regarding Asia Argento published by the New York Times,” a statement from “X Factor Italy” producers read Monday according to the Hollywood Reporter. (RELATED: #MeToo Leader Allegedly Paid Off A Man She Sexually Assaulted)
Asia Argento (Photo: Getty Images)
“It should be made clear that Sky Italia and Fremantle did not pick Asia Argento as a judge of X Factor Italy for her commitment to the #Metoo campaign, nor for her personal stances, but rather — as it has always been the case when it came to choose [sic] the judges of X Factor Italy — for her musical skills and ability to manage a television role in a show like this,” it added
The statement continued, “That said, we want to be very clear: if the allegations reported by the New York Times today were to be confirmed, the issue would be absolutely inconsistent with Sky’s ethical principles and values and, therefore — in full agreement with FremantleMedia — we would have no choice but to take note of it and put an end to the collaboration with Asia Argento.”
The comments came after the report Sunday in the Times that claimed Argento–who said Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her — reportedly paid off her own sexual assault accuser.
The Italian actress reportedly paid $380,000 to actor Jimmy Bennett in exchange for him agreeing not to sue her over allegedly sexually assaulting him when he was 17 years old in 2013. She was 37 at the time. Bennett originally asked for $3.5 million in damages for lost wages, emotional distress, battery and assault.
She was just one of the women who came out in October and accused the disgraced movie mogul of a variety of sexual misconduct allegations detailed in The New York Times and The New Yorker .
The actress claimed that in 1997 Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her. Their stories sparked the social media #MeToo campaign.
