ROME: Leading #MeToo figure Asia Argento made fresh accusations of sexual abuse on January 22, directed at The Fast and the Furious US director Rob Cohen.
The Italian actress and director, 45, was one of the first to speak out against sexual abuse in the film industry, helping to trigger the #MeToo campaign.
In 2017, she revealed that disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein had raped her in 1997, when she was 21.
In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Argento said she was also assaulted by Cohen in 2002.
"It's the first time I'm talking about Cohen. He abused me making me drink GHB, he had a bottle of it," she said, referring to the date rape drug. "At the time I didn't know what it was. I woke up in the morning naked in his bed," she added.
Argento said the assault happened while she was filming Cohen's action movie xXx. She confirmed to AFP the contents of the interview. "I can confirm it is all true," she said in a text message.
A spokesperson for Cohen denied the allegations, saying, "Mr Cohen categorically denies Asia Argento's accusation of assault against him as absolutely false ... When they worked together, they had an excellent working relationship and Mr Cohen considered her a friend, so this claim dating back to 2002 is bewildering, especially given what has been reported about her in recent years." Argento herself has been accused of sexual assault.
