Cannes Film Festival: 'I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at age of 21', reveals Asia Argento

Italian actress Asia Argento, who has accused movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault gave a powerful speech at the closing ceremony of Cannes Film Festival 2018. 

Argento, was one of the women quoted in Ronan Farrow's New Yorker article in October when she said Weinstein raped her during the Cannes festival in 1997 when she was 21. and how the powerful Hollywood producer forced her into oral sex in a French hotel.  She had told the magazine that she didn't have the courage to speak about it back then. She said, "I know he has crushed a lot of people before. That's why this story - in my case, it's 20 years old, some of them are older - has never come out." She further added, "Just talking to you about it, my whole body is shaking." 

In wake of #MeToo movement, the 42-year-old actress delivered a powerful speech on the last day of 71st Cannes Film Festival. "In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground," the actor said before presenting 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. He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes."

She continued by pointing out that Weinstein was not the only predator in the industry and ended her speech with a message that offenders would no longer be able to get away with inappropriate behavior

"And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women. For behavior that does not belong in this industry, does not belong in any industry or any workplace. You know who you are. You do not belong in this industry. But most importantly, we know who you are, and we're not going to allow you to get away with it any longer," Argento added.

Argento first revealed that she had been raped by Weinstein in The New Yorker expose the Weinstein Company producer's history of sexual assault. Argento also admitted that an attempted rape scene in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva was based on the incident.

Following Argento's speech and the presentation of the award, this year's Cannes jury president Cate Blanchett said, "It is hard to stand as a woman".

(With PTI inputs)