As the Cannes Film Festival came to a close Saturday night, Italian actress and director, Asia Argento, gave a powerful speech that shook the audience. In her speech, Argento called out now-disgraced Hollywood mogul, Harvey Weinstein. However, she also made it clear that there were other men in attendance who haven’t been exposed for their sexual misconduct yet.
Argento used the Cannes Film Festival as a platform to continue the conversation surrounding the #METOO movement. But in her speech, Argento made it clear that the Cannes Film Festival isn’t just a platform for women to speak up.
In fact, the festival is a part of the problem, according to Argento.
In her speech, Argento said, “I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. The festival was his hunting ground.”
Argento has accused the Hollywood mogul of sexual assault, and she joins many other women who have done the same throughout the film industry. And according to Argento, “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.”
And while so much of the focus goes to Weinstein, Argento reminded her audience that he is only one of the many perpetrators which the Cannes Film Festival harbors.
“Even tonight,” she continued, “sitting among you, there are those that need to be held accountable for their conduct against women. You know who you are. But most importantly we know who you are, and we will not allow you to get away with it any longer.”