Asia Argento has hired a new attorney named Mark Jay Heller following claims she sexually assaulted actor Jimmy Bennett when he was just 17 years old. Heller released a statement to Page Six explaining that his client will not pay the remainder of the hush money, per an agreement arranged by the late Anthony Bourdain.
According to the statement, Bennett has been paid roughly $250,000 of the $380,000 Bourdain and Argento initially agreed to pay him, and that’s where it stops. It goes on to read:
“Asia’s courage to originally make the accusations against Harvey Weinstein has not waned…Phase Two of the #metoo movement dictates that the voice of a victim, even one with a history that may be in question, should be heard and she is hopeful that in the Court of Public Opinion it will ultimately be determined that Asia never initiated an inappropriate sexual contact with a minor, but rather she was attacked by Bennett and might even be suffering the fallback of a smear campaign by those already accused who may have a vested interest in their accusers being denied credibility.”
On Tuesday, Heller (a very busy man these days) told TMZ that Bennett “sexually attacked” Argento, not the other way around.
Here’s a good Kristen Stewart quote:
“Yeah, ambiguity is my favorite thing ever. In terms of sexuality? For sure. And also in making films, if you perfectly answer every question, you don’t allow for people to have their own experience and really indulge in thought. I feel that same way about how we fuck each other. You don’t want to know everything all the time.”
- A source told Page Six they heard Kendall screaming at Caitlin about “turning her back on family,” but then Kendall told Page Six that was a lie. What is the truth? [Page Six]
- This woman’s story about Scientology “stalking” and “harassing” her after she left the church is covering People this week. [People]
- Oh right, Taron Egerton is starring as Elton John in a new biopic. [Lainey Gossip]
- Amanda Seyfried ate food. [Just Jared]
- Pardon? [E! Online]
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