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#MeToo in the time of hypocrisy: Asia Argento accused of sexual assault, Rose McGowan defending it, do not define the movement

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DailyBiteAug 22, 2018 | 20:29

#MeToo in the time of hypocrisy: Asia Argento accused of sexual assault, Rose McGowan defending it, do not define the movement

The #MeToo movement has been one of the biggest cultural markers in the age of internet and social media. The ousting of powerful and dangerous sexual predators, and the calling out of problematic behaviour that has been normalised by years of whitewashing, is what 2017 will be remembered for in the future. Moving from the what, the who(s) will also be remembered; producers, actors, directors, photographers, journalists, writers, doctors, politicians and more, who harassed, assaulted or raped, and the producers, actors, directors, photographers, journalists, writers, doctors, politicians and more, who decided to come out and name and shame them.

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Among the many names in the latter — some of them names that are recognisable in every corner of the world — is that of Asia Argento, an actress who was among the first set of women to slap allegations of sexual harassment and assault on Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Argento, and her compatriot Rose McGowan, have been crucial in leading this movement forward and legitimising it. Unfortunately for them, this very act may just be the reason for history to be harsh on them. For, at this point, their actions — what Argento allegedly did, and how McGowan defended it — is what people will remember.

The New York Times on August 19 reported a groundbreaking transgression purportedly on Argento’s part, one that could easily undo all that the #MeToo movement has achieved in the past year. The Italian actress, The New York Times revealed, was not only accused of sexual assault but had also “quietly” arranged to pay $380,000 to her accuser, Jimmy Bennett. Bennett, a young actor (who once played her son in a movie) and rock musician said that she had sexually assaulted him in a California hotel room years earlier, when he was only two months past his 17th birthday. Argento, then 37, allegedly performed oral sex and they had intercourse after. According to California law, where the age of legal consent is 18, this amounts to statutory rape.

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Argento and Bennett in 2013. (Photo: Twitter)

Inside the set of documents, sent to The New York Times through encrypted email by an unidentified party, were a selfie dated May 9, 2013, of Argento and Bennett (now 22) lying in bed. The documents in the mail indicated that Bennett gave the photograph and its copyright to Argento and the authenticity of the photograph has been verified.

Argento, of course, has denied these allegations.

According to The Guardian, Argento claims that the settlement paid to Bennett was made by her former partner celebrity TV chef and author Anthony Bourdain, who recently committed suicide, apparently in order to help alleviate Bennett’s “severe economic problems”.

“I am deeply shocked and hurt by having read news that is absolutely false. I have never had any sexual relationship with Bennett,” said Argento, adding that she and Bennett had been “linked in friendship only”, and that Bennett had made these claims after she had made her own allegations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein in October, 2017. “Subsequent to my exposure in the Weinstein case, Bennett — who was then undergoing severe economic problems and who had previously undertaken legal actions against his own family requesting millions in damages — unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me,” she said.

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“Bennett knew my boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, was a man of great perceived wealth, and had his own reputation as a beloved public figure to protect. Anthony insisted the matter be handled privately and this was also what Bennett wanted. Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such a person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us,” she claimed, further maintaining that, “We decided to deal compassionately with Bennett’s demand for help and give it to him. Anthony personally undertook to help Bennett economically, upon the condition that we would no longer suffer any further intrusions in our life.”

The allegations on Argento and her denial of them have ushered in a deluge of backlash, not just from those part of the #MeToo movement — they obviously see her as part of the problem that led to a movement such as this — but also from detractors of such movements who have taken this as an opportunity to slam the cultural campaign as hogwash and an attempt to falsely target men. The movement’s image, at present, is also not helped by Rose McGowan, an actress and one of the accusers of Harvey Weinstein, whose statement on Argento has been less than satisfactory.

McGowan, taking to Twitter, wrote: "I got to know Asia Argento ten months ago. Our commonality is the shared pain of being assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. My heart is broken. I will continue my work on behalf of victims everywhere,” adding, “None of us know the truth of the situation and I'm sure more will be revealed. Be gentle.”

“We don’t know the truth”, “Let the full story come out” and “We want to hear the other side speak” are often arguments that the #MeToo movement has faced from those either seeking to derail the victim’s stories or to discredit them. McGowan, having turned from actor to activist under the #MeToo banner repeating similar polemic is not just problematic (apathetic towards the alleged victim and supporting the purported perpetrator) but is also unbecoming of her as a victim and activist, who has, till this moment, urged everyone to believe the victims.

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Argento and McGowan. (Photo: Associated Press)

The hypocrisy of such a statement is not lost on people.

But, when there is criticism, there are also some stark realities.

Argento and McGowan, though problematic in their behaviour, have been victims. That should not be forgotten. Nor should anyone forget that even if Argento is guilty of sexual assault herself, it does not make Harvey Weinstein — or any of the numerous other powerful men in the entertainment industry guilty of predatory behaviour — less guilty. And finally, McGowan may be a hypocrite, but it does not mean anything for the #MeToo movement, simply because neither is McGowan the only victim championing the cause, nor is she hailed as the face of the movement.

The essence of #MeToo has been to lend a pulpit to all those who have faced assault, harassment and rape.

One person does not — and cannot — define it.

Last updated: August 22, 2018 | 20:29
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