The producers of “X-Factor Italy” said Monday that if accusations of sexual misconduct against Asia Argento “were to be confirmed,” the show would “put an end to the collaboration” with the Italian actor-director.
“It should be made clear that Sky Italia and Fremantle did not pick Asia Argento as a judge of X Factor Italy for her commitment to the #Metoo campaign, nor for her personal stances, but rather,” Sky and FremantleMedia Italy said Monday in a statement provided to TheWrap, “for her musical skills and ability to manage a television role in a show like this.”
But, the statement continued, “if the allegations reported by the New York Times today were to be confirmed… we would have no choice but to take note of it and put an end to the collaboration with Asia Argento.”
The New York Time reported Sunday that Argento, who was one of the first to publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, secretly paid a settlement to a young male actor who accused her of sexual assault.
According to documents obtained by the Times, Argento arranged to pay the settlement last November to Jimmy Bennett, a now-24-year-old actor-musician who played Argento’s son in the 2004 film “The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.”
The documents indicate that Bennett met Argento in a California hotel room in May 2013 — two months after his 17th birthday — where he said she sexually assaulted him. Bennett’s lawyer, Gordon K. Sattro, had sent Argento an intent to sue her for $3.5 million in damages for the infliction of emotional distress, lost wages, assault and battery.
The new “X Factor Italy” season is scheduled to kick off Sept. 6 on Sky Uno.
Read the full statement below:
It should be made clear that Sky Italia and Fremantle did not pick Asia Argento as a judge of X Factor Italy for her commitment to the #Metoo campaign, nor for her personal stances, but rather – as it has always been the case when it came to choose the judges of X Factor Italy – for her musical skills and ability to manage a television role in a show like this, skills and abilities widely proven during the show auditions, recorded in recent weeks, as the large audience attending them could easily confirm
That said, we want to be very clear: if the allegations reported by the New York Times today were to be confirmed, the issue would be absolutely inconsistent with Sky’s ethical principles and values and therefore – in full agreement with FremantleMedia – we would have no choice but to take note of it and put an end to the collaboration with Asia Argento.