‘Hunting ground’: Star‘s scathing speech at Cannes
ITALIAN film star Asia Argento has spoken out about her alleged rape at the hands of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein.
The actress delivered the scathing attack on Weinstein during a speech at the closing ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.
During her powerful address, Argento also took aim at other sexual predators within the entertainment industry.
"In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes," Argento said before presenting the Best Actress Award.
"I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground. I want to make a prediction: Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again.
"He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes."
This is the speech I wrote and spoke out loud tonight at Cannes. For all the brave women who came forward denouncing their predators, and for all the brave women who will come forward in the future. We got the power #metoo pic.twitter.com/ttJN1pNFxR
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) May 19, 2018
Argento, a renowned actress, singer, model, activist and director, also delivered a stinging rebuke to other sexual predators yet to be outed.
"And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women for behaviour that does not belong in this industry or workplace," Argento said.
"You know who you are. But most importantly, we know who you are. And we're not going to allow you to get away with it any longer."
Asia Argento revealed she had been raped by Weinstein in an exposé written by Ronan Farrow The New Yorker in October last year.
In the piece, she described being assaulted by Weinstein as a 21-year-old after she was lured into an empty hotel room under false pretences.
"I am still trying to come to grips with what happened," she told Farrow in the piece.
"It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare ... I was not willing."
The actress has also revealed an attempted rape scene in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva was based on her experience with Weinstein.
Argento's speech has been widely applauded on social media by fans and fellow stars alike, including actress Rose McGowan, who is herself one of Weinstein's most vocal accusers.
Read this and learn about an extra-ordinary fierce humanitarian, and an artist of great depth .@AsiaArgento https://t.co/Uk0I7cUaVY
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) May 19, 2018
Asia Argento's speech at Cannes is what I want to see from the #MeToo movement. Honest, no bullshit, and directly to the audience of powerful men who need to fucking hear it most. As a woman who wants to work in film, I'm so grateful and proud of you @AsiaArgento thank you.
— santa pendeja (@lil_issy_) May 20, 2018
I have watched @AsiaArgento speech from Cannes 10 times. Brava, sista! Your strength is admirable. We are all with you !
— Meagan Heron (@Meggerz1981) May 20, 2018
@AsiaArgento Bravo Asia, very proud of you, how you stunned the audience with your words, talking directly at pigs, victims and witnesses. That's put to shame the ones who know who they are and set the standards for the future festivals. Brave and fearless ✊
— 7000 danses (@mypinkwater) May 20, 2018
Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment, assault and rape by dozens of women, including Rose McGowan, Kate Beckinsale, Cara Delevingne, Heather Graham, Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd and Angelina Jolie.
Earlier this month, Weinstein's wife Georgina Chapman broke her silence for the first time since the scandal broke, telling Vogue she was shattered and had been living as a virtual recluse in the wake of the allegations levelled against her estranged husband, who is also the father of her two children, India, 7, and Dashiell, 5.
"I was so humiliated and so broken … that I didn't think it was respectful to go out," she told the publication.
"I thought, 'Who am I to be parading around with all of this going on?' It's still so very, very raw. I was walking up the stairs the other day and I stopped; it was like all the air had been punched out of my lungs."
