Rose McGowanis urgingAsia Argentoto “do the right thing” and “be honest” after the Italian actresswas accused of having sex with an underage boyin 2013.
In a lengthy statement released on Monday, McGowan, 44, urged Argento to “be better” after actor and musicianJimmy Bennett, 22, accused her ofallegedly sexually assaulting him when he was 17. Argento has denied having any sexual relationship with Bennett.
McGowan claimed a person she is dating, named Rain Dove, told her Argento, 42, had confessed to sleeping with Bennett.
“They said that they had been texting with Asia and that Asia had revealed that she had indeed slept with Jimmy Bennet,” McGowan wrote. TMZhad publishedscreengrabs of the alleged texts last week.
She also alleged Argento “had stated that she’d been receiving unsolicited nudes of Jimmy since he had been 12.”
Reps for Argento and Bennett did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
“Asia mentioned in these texts that she didn’t take any action on those images. No reporting to authorities, to the parents, or blocking of Jimmy’s social media,” McGowan said.
It was Rain Dove who went to police with texts shared between them and Argento, McGowan claimed.
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“Almost 48 hours later the texts were in the press,” McGowan added.
McGowan stressed she was not “affiliated with this incident” and that she had not been complicit in keeping the alleged assault a secret.
McGowan wrote she had introduced Argento to Rain Dove three days after Argento’s boyfriendAnthony Bourdaindied in June when she went to “comfort and support her.”
McGowan also shared a personal message to Argento, writing, “You were my friend.”
“I loved you. You’ve spent and risked a lot to stand with the MeToo movement,” McGowan wrote. “I really hope you find your way through this process to rehabilitation and betterment. Anyone can be better — I hope you can be, too.”
“Do the right thing. Be honest. Be fair. Let justice stay its course,” she continued. “Be the person you wish Harvey [Weinstein] could have been.”
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In a statement, Argento denied having any sexual relationship with Bennett.
Instead, Argento said the two only had a friendship that ended last fall when Bennett “unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me” following her public accusation of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein.
RELATED VIDEO: Asia Argento, Who Accused Harvey Weinstein of Rape, Allegedly Paid Off Male Accuser: Report
“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.”
The New York Timesreported in the months after her allegations against Weinstein last October, she reached the settlement with Bennett, who played her son in 2004’sThe Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
Bennett claimed Argento sexually assaulted him in 2013 two months after he turned 17. (In California, the legal age of consent is 18).
source: people.com
