Asia Argento strongly denies she had sex with underage boy, says Anthony Bourdain helped pay off accuser

The Hollywood Reporter

Argento said former child actor Jimmy Bennett tried to extort her, in responding to The New York Times article reporting that she paid him off with $380,000 over his underage sex accusation. "I am deeply shocked and hurt having read the news that is absolutely false," she said in a statement sent to journalist Yashar Ali. "I have never had any sexual relationship with Bennett." She added: "Bennett knew my boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, was a man of great perceived wealth and had his own reputation as a beloved public figure to protect. (Bourdain) insisted the matter be handled privately and this was also what Bennett wanted. Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us."