PROMINENT Harvey Weinstein accuser Asia Argento settled a sexual assault claim with an underage actor in 2017, new reports claim.

The New York Times reports the actress paid former child star Jimmy Bennett $US380,000 ($AU520,410) just months after she came forward and accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her.

The alleged assault occurred at a Californian hotel room in 2013, when Argento was 37 and Bennett was 17 — the legal age of sexual consent in California is 18.

According to documents seen by the New York Times, Bennett alleges he had a sexual encounter with Argento which left him feeling “extremely confused, mortified, and disgusted”.

After the alleged incident Bennett claims his ability to work was impacted, with his initial notice of intent to sue asking Argento for $US3.5 million ($AU4.7 million) in damages for emotional distress, battery and assault.



Argento agreed to pay Bennett $US380,000 over an 18 month period, with her lawyer Carrie Goldberg describing the money as “helping Mr Bennett”.

As part of the agreement, Bennett also gave the actress the copyright of a selfie of him and Argento in bed.

In 2017, Argento came forward to accuse Weinstein of assaulting her, claiming he had raped her in Cannes in 1997.

Her boyfriend, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain became a proponent of the #MeToo movement alongside Argento until his suicide in June.

Since his death Argento has faced a barrage of online abuse from trolls blaming her for Bourdain’s suicide.

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