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Asia Argento, the Italian actress and figure of the # MeToo movement, accuses Rob Cohen, the American director of the ‘Fast and Furious’ films, of sexual abuse in an interview published this Friday by Corriere della Sera.
The 45-year-old actress and director was one of the first to report sexual abuse in the movie world, which contributed to the launch of the #MeToo campaign. In 2017, she stated that American producer Harvey Weinstein raped her in 1997 when she was 21 years old.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper, he denounces an assault by Rob Cohen in 2002. “It’s the first time I’ve talked about Cohen. He abused me by making me drink GHB, he had a bottle, ‘he said, referring to a drug used by rapists.
LOOK: Asia Argento admitted to having “a sexual relationship” with Jimmy Bennett
“At the time I didn’t really know what it was. I woke up naked in her bed in the morning, ”she added, specifying that this attack occurred while she was starring in the movie xXx directed by Rob Cohen, along with Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson.
Asia Argento confirmed the content of this interview to AFP. A spokesman for Rob Cohen denied the allegations.
“Mr. Cohen categorically denies the completely false charge of sexual assault against him by Asia Argento,” he said in a statement to AFP.
LOOK: Actor confirms sexual abuse of Asia Argento on Italian television
“When they worked together, they had a great working relationship and Cohen considered her a friend, so this 2002 claim is puzzling, especially when you consider what has been said about her over the years,” he added.
Asia Argento was charged with sexual assault by American actor Jimmy Bennett in 2018 for events that took place in a California hotel when he was 17 years old. She initially denied having a sexual relationship with him, but later withdrew, though she denied Jimmy Bennett’s version of the events.
Responding to press reports claiming that she paid the young American actor $ 380,000, Asia Argento explained that her then partner, Chef Anthony Bourdain, had given her money to “respond with compassion to the request for financial aid”, Jimmy Bennett did.