Asia Argento Condemns Harvey Weinstein During Cannes Awards: ‘This Festival Was His Hunting Ground’ (Video)
“We’re not going to allow you to get away with it any longer,” actress warns other sexual predators in the industry
Tony Maglio | May 19, 2018 @ 1:09 PM
Last Updated: May 19, 2018 @ 1:31 PM
Getty Images
Italian actress Asia Argento called out Harvey Weinstein for his “crimes” on Saturday during the Cannes Film Festival’s awards show. She also put other predators in the industry on notice, promising, “We’re not going to allow you to get away with it any longer.”
“I have a few words to tell you. In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes,” Argento began during her presentation of 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,” she said while flanked by fellow presenter Ava DuVernay. “He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes.”
“And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women,” Argento continued. “For behavior that does not belong in this industry, does not belong in any industry or workplace. 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.”
Argento came forward with her accusations against Weinstein as part of the 2017 Ronan Farrow New Yorker piece that ultimately took the disgraced movie mogul down.
Watch Argento’s impassioned speech from Cannes below.
Le puissant discours d’@AsiaArgento pendant la cérémonie de clôture de Cannes. « J’ai été violée ici en 1997 par Harvey Weinstein ». ???????? pic.twitter.com/Qn1uguRzP4
The Scene at TheWrap and The Female Quotient's Cannes Panel on Gender Equity (Photos)
TheWrap editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman moderates a panel featuring film executive Chaz Ebert, director Lucy Walker, producer Cassian Elwes, Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk, Swedish Film Institute CEO Anna Swerner and actress Dionne Audain participate in TheWrap and The Female Quotient's "Changing Hollywood: The Road to 50/50 by 2020" panel at The Girls Lounge in Cannes.
Actress Dionne Audain makes her point at the "Changing Hollywood: The Road to 50/50 by 2020" panel in Cannes.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
Film executive Chaz Ebert, director Lucy Walker, producer Cassian Elwes and Swedish Film Institute CEO Anna Swerner at the panel.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
Lucy Walker makes a point at the panel.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
Actress Dionne Audain.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
The audience observes TheWrap and The Female Quotient's "Changing Hollywood: The Road to 50/50 by 2020" panel at The Girls Lounge in Cannes.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
Sharon Waxman
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
The scene at the panel.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
Capturing the panel on film.
Photographed by Genevieve Caron
1 of 10
Cannes 2018: Top industry figures lead discussion on “Changing Hollywood: The Road to 50/50 by 2020”
TheWrap editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman moderates a panel featuring film executive Chaz Ebert, director Lucy Walker, producer Cassian Elwes, Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk, Swedish Film Institute CEO Anna Swerner and actress Dionne Audain participate in TheWrap and The Female Quotient's "Changing Hollywood: The Road to 50/50 by 2020" panel at The Girls Lounge in Cannes.