Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty
CNN has stopped streaming episodes ofAnthony Bourdain: Parts Unknownthat includeAsia Argentoafter a sexual assault allegation was made against her.
“In light of the recent news reports about Asia Argento, CNN will discontinue airing past episodes ofParts Unknownthat included her, until further notice,” a CNN spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
Argento, 42, appeared in the Rome and Southern Italy episodes of the show and directed a Hong Kong episode, during which Bourdain said, “To fall in love with Asia is one thing. To fall in love in Asia is another. Both have happened to me.”
A Buenos Aires episode, which did not feature Argento, was also removed from CNN Go for unspecified reasons, according toBuzzFeed Newswhich was first to report.
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images; Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock
The New York Timespreviously reportedthat Argentoreached a $380,000 financial settlementwith Jimmy Bennett, who claimed that Argento had sexual intercourse with him when he was underage at 17.
Argento stated that Bourdain, her late boyfriend, paid off Bennett when he “unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me” after sheaccused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault.
“Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us. We decided to deal compassionately with Bennett’s demand for help and gave it to him,” she said. “Anthony personally undertook to help Bennett economically, upon the condition that we would no longer suffer any further intrusions in our life.”
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
“I did not initially speak out about my story because I chose to handle it in private with the person who wronged me,” the statement said. “My trauma resurfaced as she came out as a victim herself. I have not made a public statement in the past days and hours because I was ashamed and afraid to be part of the public narrative.”
The statement continued, “I was underage when the event took place, and I tried to seek justice in a way that made sense to me at the time because I was not ready to deal with the ramifications of my story becoming public.”
Argentowas reportedly firedas a judge ofX Factor Italyafter Bennett’s allegation went public,according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
source: people.com
