Rose McGowan has issued a statement denouncing her involvement with Asia Argento following claims the Italian actress paid off her sexual assault accuser.
Responding to pressures to comment on the situation, Rose released a lengthy letter cutting all ties previously established when they both accused producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, in 2017.
Asia is accused of agreeing a financial settlement with Jimmy Bennett, a 22-year-old young actor and musician who claimed she sexually assaulted him when he was 17.
Rose now claims she had seen text messages from Asia admitting that she slept with Jimmy and therefore encouraged the recipient, her friend Rain Dove, to report Asia to police.
Rose said: Many people believe that because we have been close in each others lives over the past year that perhaps I am affiliated with this incident or being complicit. I am not.
She spoke of how shed bonded with Asia over Harvey Weinstein, adding: Asia was a person who understood my trauma in a way that many others didnt.
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We were able to talk through them together and champion each others voices. We even got matching dot tattoos!… But then everything changed. In an instant, she said.
Rain Dove, the model that Rose is dating, was exchanging messages with Asia in which its alleged the Italian actress admitted to sleeping with Jimmy.
Asia also stated that shed been receiving unsolicited nudes of Jimmy since he had been 12, yet she had not taken action.
Its believed these images were being used to extort Asia, while she publicly denied having any sexual relationship with him.
Rose says she fully supported Rain Doves decision to report the messages, and they were publicised in the media within 48 hours.
It wasnt hard to say or support, Rose said. What was hard was the shell shock of the realisation that everything the MeToo movement stood for was about to be in jeopardy.
Severing all ties, Rose went on: Ill be fine. Its sad to lose a friend connection, but whats even more sad is what happened to Jimmy Bennet. Whether or not the extortion case is true – it wasnt fair and it wasnt right.
It is the type of thing I fight against alongside so many. The reason I havent released a statement is because Ive frankly been extremely humbled by this event.
I had to take a step back and realise that in my own activism while I fight hard with passion- I need to evolve.
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She continued: There absolutely should be no leeway or tolerance for sexual assault. Hard stop. NONE. Victims also shouldnt be told how they should react or what they should say about their abusers.
However as allies to the victim and voyeurs of an event we should find a better way to balance support of the victim with due process for the accused. Ive never claimed to be perfect. This week especially has made me come to terms with the fact that we all have a lot of growing to do, including myself.
Last October – shortly after the alleged settlement of $380,000 (£297,000) was made to Jimmy – Argento accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s via a New Yorker article by Ronan Farrow.
Rose spearheaded the campaign to get justice for Weinsteins alleged victims after going public with her own claims that he raped her at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.
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Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
In a personal note to Asia, Rose concluded: Asia you were my friend. I loved you. Youve spent and risked a lot to stand with the MeToo movement.
I really hope you find your way through this process to rehabilitation and betterment. Anyone can be be better- I hope you can be, too. Do the right thing. Be honest. Be fair. Let justice stay its course.
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Be the person you wish Harvey could have been.
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